M-20 E Super 21
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 1; Flight Crew Total 1250; Flight Crew Type 1
Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
I took off in the late morning local time; heading northwest to practice turns; climbs/descents; shallow bank turns to get comfortable with airplane. On return to the airport; setup for landing on the runway. After touchdown the landing gear collapsed and props struck runway. There were several eye witnesses; including the airport manager that indicated that the landing gear doors were open and the gear was down. I am not sure what caused the landing gear to collapse. Perhaps the switch that locks the gear malfunctioned.
The Reporter stated that he felt the gear come down because of the pitch change but he is; after the fact; uncertain that it was actually full down and locked because the gear down indication is a single small green light. The ambient conditions at the time were bright sunlight which may have made the light appear that it was illuminated when in fact it was not. This aircraft has a history of the landing gear actuator motor over loading and popping the circuit breaker. The cause of the gear collapse is still unknown but is being investigated by Maintenance.
Landing gear collapsed after landing resulting in a belly-skid down the runway. Proper procedures and checklists were followed prior to landing; however the gear-down indicator lights are somewhat dim and hard to see in bright sunlight. I believe this resulted in a false confirmation that the gear was in fact down and locked.
A pilot reported his M20E landing gear collapsed after what appeared to be a normal approach and landing with the gear extended.