Accident to the Piper - PA24 registered F-BFAM on 05/04/2021 at Châteauroux (Indre)

Cat. 3 investigation report: report concerning an occurrence with limited consequences, based on one or more statements not independently validated by the BEA.

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in July 2021. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference.

Note: The following information is principally based on statements made by the pilot. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1 - HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

The pilot and owner of the aeroplane, accompanied by a passenger in the right seat, took off shortly after 12:00 from Chateauroux-Deols aerodrome to perform aerodrome circuits on runway 21.
During the second circuit, the pilot forgot to extend the landing gear. The aeroplane slid along the runway before coming to a halt. The pilot indicated that he was focused on the piloting. He specified that he did not hear the gear not extended aural warning and that he did not check the light at the bottom of the instrument panel.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The 69-year-old pilot held a PPL(A) licence issued on 18 October 2018 and a SEP (land) rating valid until October 2022. He had logged 40 flight hours on this aeroplane, of which 45 minutes within the last 90 days. His total experience was 217 flight hours, of which 44 hours as pilot-in-command.