Flight Sequence
Two pilots were conducting a local mutual training flight at Cuers Pierrefeu aerodrome. During landing, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted. The pilots then heard the audible 'gear up' warning.
Additional Information
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear control was in the down ('gear extended') position, the landing gear was retracted, and the gear doors were not deformed. When the aircraft was lifted, the gear remained in their wells. The mechanic then set the gear control to the up position, turned on the battery master switch, and set the control to down. The gear cycle operated normally and the gear locked down. No damage to the gear was observed.
The aircraft is equipped with an audible warning and a red cockpit indicator light to alert of a possible gear-up landing. This alarm activates when the throttle is set to a manifold pressure below 14 inches of mercury or flaps are selected beyond 10°, with the gear retracted and locked.
The mechanic reported that during the last traffic pattern, after retracting the gear during initial climb, the pilot decided to fly a low-altitude pattern. In a low-altitude pattern, the takeoff configuration (gear down, flaps at takeoff) is normally maintained until transitioning to landing configuration (gear down, flaps at landing).
Probable Cause
The accident was probably due to the landing gear control being in the 'gear retracted' position during landing. This could have resulted from forgetting to extend the gear during landing preparation, or accidentally retracting the gear during that operation.