TBM 700/TBM 850
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 124; Flight Crew Total 1796; Flight Crew Type 12
Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors
We were told by approach to expect 31L at DAL for traffic. I told approach that I had the field in sight. Approach turned us over to tower. We were at 2;500 MSL on the southwest side of DAL. I told tower; tower; [call sign] for 31L. Tower responded with; 'Roger cleared to land 31L following traffic on three mile final.' It's also important to note that there was another aircraft approaching the airport with a very similar call sign.  We set up on base and then final; fully configured to land. When I turned base I saw our traffic to follow; then lost him later as I turned final. As we approached 31L on very short final the tower said '[call sign] cancel landing clearance.' I immediately started to execute a go-around; added takeoff power and put the gear up. Because I was unsure if that was for us or the other call sign I immediately queried tower and asked if that was for us. The tower controller seemed confused and said negative. I then asked if we were cleared to land 31L. I was beginning to pull power back to land at this point. There was some more communication traffic but I did not hear a clear answer. I then heard the landing gear warning horn and saw I did not have the gear down lights. At this point I executed a full go around and notified tower we were going around; I may have a gear problem. The tower then gave me a climb heading and altitude and we went around and landed safely on 31R. I mentioned the gear on the initial go around call; because for a split second it might have been an indication problem. When tower queried me later about the gear I told them the gear was ok. I realized in the go around that I had put the gear up on the initial call from Tower. We were fortunate that we did not land gear up. I am still unsure as to whether tower wanted us to land or not when the original cancel landing clearance call was made. I have learned a lot from this situation. The main one being if you are unsure and you start a go around procedure; to complete that procedure and go around fully. Do not try to salvage the landing. If there is a similar call sign we must be extra vigilant on our communications procedures. That goes for ATC too.
TBM-850 pilot experienced confusion during a visual approach due to a similar sounding call sign and executed a go-around after nearly landing gear up.