What happened
On July 24, 2016, a Piper PA-28R-20, registration G-IBFW, departed Lydd, United Kingdom, for a flight to Rouen, France. During the cruise phase, the pilot experienced radio interference, necessitating two switches between radio receivers while communicating with Paris Info and Rouen Approach.
As the aircraft approached Rouen, the pilot reduced engine power and descended from 3,000 feet to join the base leg for runway 22. During this power reduction, the landing gear warning siren activated. While on the base leg, the pilot noted being above the glide path. To maintain situational awareness, the pilot performed a loud, verbalized landing checklist while focusing his gaze outside the cockpit to monitor the approach slope.
Although the pilot corrected the descent profile approximately 100 meters before the runway threshold, the gear warning siren continued to sound. The pilot did not realize the gear remained retracted until the flare maneuver. Consequently, the aircraft landed with the gear up, skidding on its belly for several hundred meters along the runway before coming to a stop. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the approach and the factors contributing to the failure to notice the gear warning. The pilot, a 55-year-old with 246 total flight hours, provided testimony regarding the cockpit environment. The investigation examined the impact of radio communication difficulties and the continuous audible warning on the pilot's concentration. The inquiry also reviewed the effectiveness of the pilot's checklist execution and the visual monitoring of flight instruments during the final approach.