M-20 B/C Ranger
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 2000; Flight Crew Type 30
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors
During FAA biannual flight review; we performed slow flight and stalls in the client's (pilot flying) airplane. Stalls and slow flight were performed with gear down and full flaps in the landing configuration approximately 3000-3500 feet in proximity to the airport. As an important side note; the aircraft used employs the manual 'Johnson bar' landing gear handle/system for extension and retraction. When the slow flight/stalls were complete; the pilot flying cleaned up the aircraft to cruise configuration. I was at that point looking for self-announced traffic in the area and I failed to notice the pilot only raised the flaps but left the gear extended. We then set up for practice hood work; but then I called for simulated low to zero oil pressure; followed by simulated engine out for the pilot to practice engine out scenario to an airfield. We began spiraling down to set up for a landing to [the airport]. As we passed 1000 feet AGL I could tell the pilot was going to be short of the field. Passing 700-800 feet AGL I advised for him to add power if needed and gear when needed. At approximately 500 feet AGL the pilot reached down and operated the landing gear Johnson bar and announced 'gear down and locked'. The pilot then added a small amount of power since we would be short of the runway and performed a normal flare to [the] runway. We began a lower than normal settle to the runway and with the sight picture not looking right I called for 'power' and 'go around'. The pilot then performed a successful go-around. On climb out the pilot realized the gear was actually retracted and that on short final he had actually raised the landing gear [from] the down and locked position. A successful normal landing was [subsequently] performed.
M20 Instructor Pilot reported he and his student almost landed gear up after a training flight.