20170728012199I

On July 28, 2017 at approximately 7:00PM EDT, N5088P experienced a gear up landing at the Decatur County Airport (kbge) located in Bainbridge, Georgia causing minor damage with two souls on board and no injuries. N5088P, a 1958 Piper PA-24 s/n 24-94 was being operated under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 61 certification of pilots, flight instructors and ground instructors. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

On July 28, 2017 at approximately 9:00PM EDT an inspector from the atlanta flight standards district office was contacted by the regional operations center and notified of the situation and damage. The FAA inspector was informed that the aircraft was given the okay to move off the runway by the tallahassee ATCT due to the minor damage and no injuries and to reposition the aircraft to a safer location until an FAA inspector could arrive on Monday a.m. July 31, 2017.

On July 31, 2017 an inspector from the atlanta FSDO arrived on scene at the Decatur County Airport to conduct an investigation as to why a gear up landing occurred during an instructor/student proficiency flight. The FAA inspector was immediately taken to a hangar where the incident aircraft was located. An assessment of the damage revealed the propeller had struck the ground as it was bent inwards on both blades. There was no visible damage to any of the landing gear tires or gear doors. An examination of the under belly of the aircraft showed several scrape marks located mid fuselage, evident of the aircraft landing on its belly and sliding to a complete stop. There was no damage to either wing or wing tips. An interview was conducted with aircraft?s full time a&p/ia mechanic that arrived on scene after the incident and assisted with relocating the aircraft to the hanger. The mechanic stated that the aircraft did not have any of its gear extended and was resting on its belly on the runway. When the aircraft was lifted up to transport to the hanger all three landing gears gravity extended and locked with no assist. The mechanic stated that there had been no known issues associated with the landing gear system. An examination of the log books did not reveal any landing gear concerns. The aircraft was up to date on all annual and 100HR inspections and all airworthiness directives had been accomplished. An examination of the left main gear wheel well uncovered a push pull rod that had sheared off at the rod end. Further examination of the landing gear system revealed that the landing gear transmission assembly had broken at the rear of the assembly. This component is located in the flight deck on the floor between the PIC and SIC seats. Next an interview was conducted with the flight instructor and student to get their recollection of the events that transpired during the incident. Both pilots stated that they had been practicing for the student?s upcoming commercial check ride that was scheduled in a few days by performing take offs and landings and that they both remember lowering the gear handle and getting a green down indication light during landing. According to both pilots the landing was uneventful until they noticed that the gear appeared to collapse on impact followed by smoke as they came to rest on the aircraft?s belly. They both exited the aircraft unharmed and notified emergency personnel.