Accident Details
On July 19, 2019, at about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft 95-B55, registration N386Q, was substantially damaged during a landing at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), Sanford, Florida. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by My Air Club LLC. and was being operated as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight had departed from SFB about 1200.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, after being cleared for departure, he initiated the takeoff roll, rotated, and climbed to traffic pattern altitude. He retracted the landing gear and began a turn onto the downwind leg. While on downwind, the pilot extended the landing gear and deployed the flaps. He reported difficulty seeing whether the landing gear indicator light was illuminated but confirmed observing "one green." The pilot stated the subsequent landing felt "very smooth" until he heard the noise of propellers striking the ground. He noticed the left propeller was curled and pulled back on the yoke, allowing the airplane to slide to a stop. After the airplane stopped, the pilot saw flames coming from the underside. He exited, and the airport fire department responded, extinguishing the fire.
Examination Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found that the inboard portions of the right and left wings had sustained substantial fire damage. The airplane was raised from the runway, and the landing gear was manually extended from the up and locked position. After the main landing gear was down and locked, the airplane was towed to the ramp area. The main landing gear doors and the underside of the airplane exhibited heavy scraping. Review of airport surveillance video showed the airplane on short final with the landing gear in the up position. The video also captured the airplane during the landing flare with the landing gear still stowed before touchdown.
Landing Gear Test
During further examination, a landing gear retraction and extension test was performed. With electrical power supplied, the landing gear operated normally when lowered and raised. No anomalies were noted with the landing gear assembly during the test.