PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 39; Flight Crew Total 2850; Flight Crew Type 1572
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Procedure; Human Factors
[We were] on takeoff; experienced partial power loss due to fuel venting overboard because fuel caps were not reinstalled. [We] turned back for immediate return to field. [We] continued to experience power reduction and altitude loss. Did emergency landing but failed to activate gear-down.
During takeoff following a refueling stop; the pilot of a Piper PA32 experienced a loss of power due to the failure to properly install the fuel caps. The return to the field was sucessful; however the pilot neglected to lower the landing gear; resulting in a gear-up landing.