What happened
During a training flight, an instructor pilot instructed a student to perform a landing without flaps to simulate a hydraulic pump failure. As the student approached the runway, they initiated the required emergency gear extension checklist. Following the operator's flight standards manual, the instructor delayed the gear deployment until the landing was deemed secure.
As the aircraft continued its approach, the student moved the power levers forward, which caused the gear warning horn to cease sounding. At this moment, the instructor released his grip on the landing gear handle without actually deploying the gear. The instructor later noted that he mistakenly believed the checklist had already been completed because the student had previously called for it.
As a result of the gear remaining retracted, the aircraft type performed a wheels-up landing. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported in the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the landing gear system revealed that the mechanism was fully functional and that no uncorrected maintenance issues existed. The primary factor in the accident was instructor error regarding the gear extension status. Additionally, it was noted that the instructor was finishing a nine-hour shift that had not included a scheduled meal break.