Accident Summary
On 7 May 2016, at approximately 1530 UTC, a Zlin Z.526F Trener Master, registration G-EHZT, was involved in an accident at Seething Airfield, Norfolk. The aircraft landed with its landing gear retracted and slid to a halt on the runway. The pilot, the only person on board, reported no injuries.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, manufactured in 1974 (serial number 1317), was a single-engine Zlin Z.526F Trener Master powered by a LOM M137A piston engine. It was operated as a private flight.
Pilot Information
The 62-year-old pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 1,254 total flying hours, of which 22 hours were on the accident aircraft type. In the previous 90 days, he had flown 16 hours, and in the last 28 days, 3 hours.
Sequence of Events
During the approach, when the pilot reduced engine power to slow down and lower the flaps and landing gear, the landing gear warning bell sounded. The pilot believed he then lowered the landing gear and selected flap one. After increasing power to maintain speed, the bell stopped. He continued the approach, lowering the remaining stages of flap. Once over the runway, the pilot selected idle power and flared the aircraft; as he did so, the bell sounded again. The aircraft then landed with the landing gear up and slid to a halt on the runway.
Pilot Comments
The pilot noted that he thought the green landing gear down indication light was on, but it was difficult to see due to glare. He did not check the wing-mounted 'barber's pole' indicators, which protrude from the wings when the landing gear is down. Additionally, the stall warning and landing gear warning horn in the aircraft were identical to those in another aircraft type he had been flying recently. Consequently, he believed the bell that sounded just before touchdown was the stall warning, which he often heard when landing the other aircraft type.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to its cowlings, propeller, central fuselage, and flaps.