WHEELS UP LNDG.

Narrative

I FLEW OVER ELLICOTT AND THE SMALL GRAVEL STRIP. WITH AN ALT OF ABOUT 220 FT AGL; IT WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME TO PRACTICE AN ENG FAILURE; PICK MY LNDG SPOT; DO MY 360'S; A 45 DEG TANGENT; AND LAND. I CUT THE ENG TO IDLE AND QUICKLY ATTAINED MY BEST GLIDE SPD OF 70 KTS; COMPLETED 3 360'S OVER THE LNDG POINT; SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED A 45 DEG TANGENT; AND COMPLETED A PERFECT FINAL WITH AN AIRSPD OF 60 TO 65 KTS. I SLOWED MY AIRSPD TO 55 KTS TO A GREASED LNDG ON THE GRAVEL. PERFECT! EXCEPT FOR ONE SMALL PROB. IN THE INTENSITY OF SIMULATING AN EMER LNDG; I WAS NOT IN MY REGULAR ROUTINE AND FAILED TO USE MY GUMPS CHKLIST; I NEVER LOWERED THE GEAR. FORTUNATELY; THE DAMAGE WAS VERY SLIGHT TO THE BELLY AND THE GEAR DROPPED DOWN EASILY AFTER WE RAISED THE PLANE WITH A HOIST. THE LESSON LEARNED HERE IS VERY SIMPLE; WHEN I GOT OUTSIDE OF MY ROUTINE IN PRACTICING AN EMER SIT; I FAILED TO INCORPORATE WHAT WAS NORMAL. PERHAPS IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT A GEAR-UP LNDG WOULD BE THE BEST IN AN EMER; BUT CERTAINLY NOT PART OF A PRACTICE SESSION. THE ALARM SYS DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN I PULLED THE PWR TO 10 INCHES. SO I COMPLETED THE ENTIRE MANEUVER IN TOTAL SILENCE. THIS IS A BIT DISCONCERTING BECAUSE IT NORMALLY ACTIVATES AT ABOUT 20 INCHES AND DRIVES ME NUTS FOR ABOUT 10 MINS BEFORE A NORMAL LNDG.