What happened
Prior to the incident, the pilot noted that the wing flaps were non-functional, yet chose to operate the aircraft type despite instructions in the Airplane Flight Manual suggesting otherwise. While performing an approach without flaps, the pilot determined the airspeed was excessive for landing and attempted a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft type continued to lose altitude, resulting in the fuselage making contact with the runway. Following the strike, the pilot realized the landing gear had not been deployed; after extending the gear, the aircraft landed without further incident. Due to fatigue, the pilot stayed at the airport overnight.
On the following day, a test flight was attempted. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced intense vibrations, prompting the pilot to abort the takeoff. A subsequent inspection by a mechanic revealed that the center wing carry-through structure had developed a crack. This damage occurred because the belly skid pad had deflected upward into a stringer during the initial gear-up landing.
Findings
- The pilot operated the aircraft with known flap failures.
- The primary cause was the structural damage to the wing carry-through caused by the impact of the belly skid pad during the runway strike.