Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Cessna 210D Centurion, registration G-OWAN, manufactured in 1964 (serial number 210-58321). It was powered by a single Continental Motors Corp IO-520-A piston engine. The flight was a private operation.
Flight History
On 20 July 2013 at 1200 hrs, the aircraft departed from a farm strip at Pendle View Farm, North Yorkshire. Two pilots and one passenger were on board. The pilot in the left seat held a Commercial Pilot's Licence and had a total flying experience of 5,806 hours, with 80 hours on the Cessna 210 type. The pilot in the right seat held a Private Pilot's Licence.
During the pre-flight check, the engine oil was topped up. After boarding, the left-seat pilot performed the takeoff. During the climb out, he noticed oil seeping from the cowling and flowing onto the windscreen. He decided to return to the airstrip.
Oil Leak and Landing
As the aircraft approached short finals, the left-seat pilot's forward vision became increasingly obscured by oil. He asked the right-seat pilot to perform the landing. The right-seat pilot took control but, due to the late handover and the fact that the flaps were already lowered, he assumed the aircraft was fully configured for landing. The landing gear was not extended, and the aircraft touched down gently on its belly, sliding to a halt on the grass.
Aftermath
No injuries were reported. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and the underside of the fuselage. Investigation revealed that the oil leakage was caused by an improperly secured filler cap. The right-seat pilot noted that the gear warning horn did not sound, which should activate when the throttle is set close to idle with the landing gear retracted. At the time of the report, the reason for the warning horn's failure had not been determined.