PIPER CPR PLT OPERATES ACFT AFTER GEAR UP LNDG DAMAGES THE WING FLAPS AND PROPS.
Synopsis
PIPER CPR PLT OPERATES ACFT AFTER GEAR UP LNDG DAMAGES THE WING FLAPS AND PROPS.
Narrative
I FLEW FROM F45 (NORTH PALM BEACH COUNTY) TO TREASURE CAY; BAHAMAS (MYAT). I FAILED TO EXTEND THE LNDG GEAR AND CONTACTED THE RWY WITH THE INBOARD TRAILING EDGE OF THE FLAPS AND THE PROP TIPS. I WENT AROUND AND LANDED NORMALLY. UPON INSPECTING THE ACFT; I FOUND THE FLAPS WERE ABRADED BUT FUNCTIONAL. THE 4-BLADE 'Q-TIP' PROPS WERE CURLED AND SOMEWHAT ABRADED BUT SEEMED STRUCTURALLY SOUND. I DID A FULL PWR RUN-UP; THEN TEST FLEW THE ACFT. IT BEHAVED NORMALLY; AND I FELT THAT IT WAS OK TO FLY IT. I CONTINUED TO NASSAU; PICKED UP THE OWNER OF THE ACFT; AND SAID NOTHING OF WHAT HAPPENED. WE CONTINUED TO PBI AND ON TO F45. I DROPPED HIM OFF AND RETURNED TO BASE (BCT). THE ISSUE HERE IS MY DECISION TO CONTINUE FLYING THE ACFT AFTER IT WAS DAMAGED. I AM NOT AN A&P; NOR WAS I AWARE AT THE TIME THE SERIOUSNESS OF ANY PROP CONTACT. I THOUGHT THAT SUDDEN STOPPAGE WAS THE ONLY DANGER TO THE ENGS; AND AS I STATED; THE PROPS SEEMED OK. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL STATE; CLOSE TO SHOCK. ALSO; I HAD ONLY FLOWN 25 HRS IN THE PAST 90 DAYS; AND HAD ONLY 4 HRS IN TYPE. IF I WERE IN A SIMILAR SIT TODAY; I WOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN THE AIRPLANE HOME; BECAUSE I AM MORE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGS AND PROPS FOLLOWING AN EVENT SUCH AS THIS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.