Accident Details
On 18 December 2012 at 1214 UTC, a Cessna R182 Skylane (registration G-WIFE, serial number R182-00244, manufactured in 1978) was involved in an accident at Dundee Airport. The aircraft was powered by one Lycoming O-540-J3C5D piston engine. The flight was a private engineering test flight intended to check fuel mixture and rpm settings. The pilot, aged 56, held a Commercial Pilot's Licence with 1,430 hours total flying experience (21 hours on type). No passengers were on board, and the pilot was uninjured.
Sequence of Events
The pilot rejoined the visual circuit at Dundee for landing on Runway 27. Weather conditions were fine, with a surface wind from 260° at 10 knots. The pilot reported selecting the landing gear down and observing the main gear lower normally. However, he did not see a green 'gear down' indicator light until he cupped his hand around the indicator, after which he did see the light. Just before touchdown, he heard the 'landing gear unsafe' warning horn but ignored it, assuming it was the stall warning horn.
After landing, the aircraft continued to pitch nose-down. The propeller struck the ground, and the aircraft slid to a stop on the hard surface runway without the need to apply wheel brakes.
Damage and Findings
The damage comprised damage to the propeller and forward lower cowlings, and the engine was shock-loaded. Photographs taken at the scene showed the nose landing gear to be still retracted with the gear doors closed. At the time of the report, a reason for the nose landing gear failing to lower had not been established.