M20E pilot reported failure to identify landing gear light status resulted in a prop strike on go around and return to a safe landing.

2025-03 · NASA ASRS report 2227233

Date: 2025-03 · Aircraft: M-20 E Super 21 · Phase: landing

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|ground-event-encounter-ground-strike-aircraft

Synopsis

M20E pilot reported failure to identify landing gear light status resulted in a prop strike on go around and return to a safe landing.

Narrative

At approximately XA:00 on Day 0; clear skies; 10 SM; winds were approx 300 at 7kts. I was on final for rwy XX at ZZZ and going through my final GUMPS check. When I checked the landing gear light; it appeared to be dim lit green but confirming landing gear was down. As I was over the runway and continuing to descend for the landing; I suddenly heard the warning beep turn on informing me the landing gear was not down. I suddenly heard a scrape noise and immediately pulled the yolk back and pushed the throttle in full realizing the landing gear was not in fact down. I climbed back up to 1500 feet and went around the pattern. I function tested the landing gear; cycled three times and verified it was working and confirmed it was down and locked. I proceeded to go around the traffic pattern and come in for a safe landing. Upon parking the airplane; I did a walk around and inspected for any damage. There was no damage to the airplane itself; the body or skins. However; the propeller tips Did make contact with the runway for a moment and incurred some damage. The airplane was still able to fly at the time of contact to go around the traffic pattern and land safely. There is no vibration or unusual noises during the flight around and the motor ran perfectly as designed. No one was injured and there was no public property damage. I have reached out to my technician to investigate the issue with the landing lights and landing gear on Day 1.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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