Accident Overview
On 29 January 2006, at approximately 1325 UTC, a Yakovlev Yak-18T (registration HA-YAZ) sustained damage during a gear-up landing at White Waltham Aerodrome in Berkshire. The aircraft, manufactured in 1977 and powered by a single Ivchenko Vedeneyev M-14PF piston engine, was being operated on a private flight with only the pilot on board.
Flight Details
The pilot, a 51-year-old holder of a Private Pilot's Licence with 289 total flying hours (27 on type), had not flown the aircraft for five weeks. He planned to fly circuits for practice. The weather was reported as good, with sunshine and light winds. The active runway was grass Runway 03, and a left-hand circuit pattern was in use.
Incident Description
The pilot had completed several circuits. During the final circuit, after what he believed was a normal approach, the aircraft landed with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft slid to a halt on the runway. The pilot exited the aircraft without assistance.
Subsequent Observations
After the event, it was reported to the pilot that the landing gear had been seen to retract while on the downwind leg. The pilot commented that after takeoff on his final circuit, he had turned crosswind early to maintain separation from another aircraft. He stated that he thought it was possible he had omitted to retract the gear at that stage. On the downwind leg, he remembered he had experienced some difficulty finding the gear selector but believed he had selected the gear down. However, it seems likely that he may have inadvertently selected the gear up instead. The pilot noted that the sun had been in his eyes on the downwind leg, which could have prevented him from seeing the gear warning lights. He said that his usual practice was to check for 'three greens' on final approach, and he could not account for not noticing the lack of gear indications at that stage.
Damage
The propeller, engine cowling, and flap were damaged, and minor damage occurred to the wing.