What happened
On 17 April 2001, a Beech N35, registration G-ARKJ, was conducting a private flight from Shoreham to Earls Colne Airfield in Essex. During the approach to Runway 24, the pilot was instructed by Earls Colne Radio to land to the left of the centre-line because the runway surface consisted of damp grass.
As the aircraft touched down, the pilot discovered that the landing gear had not been deployed. Consequently, the aircraft slid along the runway surface before coming to a halt. The incident resulted in damage to the propeller, the flaps, and the underside of the fuselage, and the engine sustained shockloading. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. It was established that while the aircraft was equipped with a gear warning system, this specific system failed to alert the pilot to the gear's position during the approach.
Findings
- The pilot failed to lower the landing gear prior to touchdown.
- The gear warning system failed to function as intended during the flight.