LA-4-200 Buccaneer
Flight Crew Sea; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 101; Flight Crew Total 6916; Flight Crew Type 690
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
I was having static system problems with my Lake Amphibian even though I had an annual and IFR static system check done [recently].The mechanic had found a blocked static port and partially crimped hose; repaired both; and flight tested the airplane. When I arrived I found it tied outside; did a thorough preflight with the help of my pilot friend who was traveling with me. On takeoff I noticed an excessively high indicated airspeed on liftoff that diminished to zero on climb out. I asked my friend if he had removed the pitot cover when he removed the control locks; and he said he did not. I incorrectly thought that might be the problem; forgetting I would not have had any airspeed initially if that had been the problem. I decided to return to [departure airport] and land to see if the cover was still on. As I turned crosswind; I saw runway X and since the wind was out of North decided to land on it since it was closer; I was worried about weather moving in; and it would position us for a quick takeoff again on runway XYR. I then concentrated on making a safe landing without airspeed and forgot to go through my normal prelanding check lists. I usually put the gear down on downwind; make a visual check of the mirror on the left sponson to see the gear is down; and have any passenger confirm by looking at the mirror on their side. Then I do a GUMPS check and an inside flow check that includes gear lights; and hydraulic pressure. Then on final I do a second visual check. In my hurry and distraction of no airspeed I did not do any of this and forgot to lower the gear. My passenger who had double checked twice on the trip in the [other aircraft] did not make any comment; but had no responsibility to and was not asked this time.We landed on the runway with minimum damage to the wear strip on the keel and the keel on one sponson. I called my mechanic who came immediately to help. While waiting for him to arrive we put the strobe light on to notify anyone landing that we were there; even though the other two runways were still usable. I did not see any other traffic taking off or landing while we were on the runway; and we were able to jack up the plane; lower the gear and taxi it to the maintenance facility to be inspected about 1 hour after the landing. One line person and the airport manager also offered assistance; but there was nothing they could do to help.The mechanic determined the static system problem was caused by a bug in the static port; and the pitot cover was inside the airplane and had not been installed after the test flight.This was a typical chain of events accident. If the pitot tube cover had been installed; there would have been no static system problem and no rushed landing. If I had not been rushing because of weather; I would have done a full traffic pattern with my normal checks and double checks on the gear and not landed with the gear up.While very frustrated over the experience; I am grateful that the landing itself was well controlled; no one was hurt in any way; and the damage was minimal; especially since the engine and propeller are above the fuselage and made no contact with anything.
The pilot of a Lake Amphibian aircraft experienced an airspeed indication problem after takeoff; and decided to return to the departure airport. He became distracted with the indication issue and neglected to lower the landing gear prior to landing.