Incident Overview
On 6 August 2004, a Cessna 210L (registration N249SP) operated as a private flight from Paris Le Bourget Airport to Belfast City Airport, Northern Ireland, landed with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft sustained propeller damage and slight damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot and sole passenger were uninjured and evacuated through the cabin doors with the assistance of the airport fire and rescue service.
Flight Details
The aircraft departed Paris Le Bourget at 1000 hours UTC. The pilot conducted an ILS approach to Runway 22 under light winds with scattered cloud at 2,500 feet. During the approach, the pilot did not lower the landing gear or check for a down-and-locked indication. On short final, the aircraft descended slightly below the 3-degree glideslope. The aerodrome controller observed that the landing gear was not extended and transmitted a warning to the aircraft on very short final, but the pilot did not hear the transmission. The aircraft subsequently touched down with the landing gear up.
Landing Gear System
The landing gear indication system on this aircraft includes a single green light indicating all gears locked down and an amber light for all gears fully up. When the gear is in transit or not at a limit position, no light illuminates. A warning horn activates if the landing gear is not locked down and manifold pressure drops below a predetermined level. The main landing gear is visible from the cabin when down. Both the gear and stall warning audio are routed through the overhead speaker rather than the pilot's headset.
Pilot Comments and System Test
Following the incident, the gear warning system was tested and found to be serviceable. The pilot noted that the gear warning horn on the Cessna 210L is not particularly loud and could be easily confused with the stall warning horn. The procedural approach to an unfamiliar airfield increased the pilot's workload, which may have contributed to the oversight. The increased power required for the shallower final approach would likely have delayed the gear warning activation until just before touchdown. The pilot reported no recollection of cockpit or other distractions during the latter stages of the approach that could account for missing the ATC transmission.