Accident Sequence
On Saturday, 23 October 2021 at approximately 1424Z, a solo pilot departed from Rand Aerodrome (FAGM) in a Cessna T210L aircraft, registration ZS-AVB, intending to land at Tedderfield Aerodrome (FATA). The flight, conducted under Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 as amended, was a private VFR day operation and proceeded without incident until the approach to FATA. The pilot reported that he forgot to lower the landing gear before landing. The landing gear warning horn activated approximately 10 feet above ground level (AGL), at which point the pilot determined it was too late to initiate a go-around and elected to land the aircraft on its belly.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a Cessna T210L Centurion (serial number 210-59976), had accumulated 2407.2 Hobbs hours total time. The last mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) was completed on 13 August 2021 at 2403.2 Hobbs hours, with a Certificate of Release to Service valid until 2503.2 Hobbs hours or 12 August 2022, whichever occurred first. An additional 4 Hobbs hours were flown since that inspection. No pre-existing defects were reported or recorded; all damage resulted from the accident.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 70-year-old male holding a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL), had 1815.25 total flying hours, including 1707.3 hours on the Cessna T210L type. He was the sole occupant and was not injured during the sequence.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the underbelly and propeller blade tips. Photographs from the pilot show the aircraft after the belly landing and after the landing gear was subsequently extended.
Probable Cause
The aircraft was landed on its belly due to the pilot forgetting to lower the landing gear during landing. The pre-landing checklist was not followed.
Notes
This investigation was limited; no formal investigation was conducted. The report compiled by the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) aims to share safety information. All times are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).