Originally published at: https://avweb.com/flight-safety/bonanza-safety-group-targets-gear-up-lands/
The American Bonanza Society says gear-up landings and gear collapses frequently result in total losses.
The only retractable aircraft I’ve ever flown was the 182RG. And if one was dumb enough to even attempt to land one with the gear up, a warning blaring blast would come through the headsets. Doesn’t the bonanza do the same? The 182RG would do it when the manifold pressure dropped off, on an approach to landing, and the gear was still up.
Karrpilot-
Bonanza aircraft have the same type of gear warning horn. The problem occurs in many cases due to pilot distractions that disrupt the landing routine of gear down to go down.
The problem is one of my pet-peeves as a CFI: Pilots flying their planes on a real shallow approach hanging from the prop with lots of power applied. If more pilots practiced using a stabilized approach at idle or even close to idle, this wouldn’t happen because the landing gear alarm would be blaring all the way from base to final turn to landing if the gear isn’t down.
The excuse sometimes is short runways but that’s just lack of training. I fly my T-34A onto my 2500’ grass runway and since day one have been stopped and turning around in less than 1300’, and I bring it in smoothly and comfortably at 1.3 Vso.
Having about 5,000 hour flying Barons and Bonanzas I jst can’t figure out how you can land on with the gear up. These a very clean airframes and you need the gear extension so slow them down to the appropriate speed over the fence. Of course you have to be a pilot that flies air speeds. For an A35 or 55E Baron the settings are 3 degrees up trip, approach flaps, 2500 RPM and 15 inch manafold pressure and you will fly a 3 degree slide slope.
Years ago my son got his license at two diffferent airports ( had a scholarship). First taught him to come in higher, then drop to the runway, having additional altitude over the approach in case of issues. He can grease a crop-duster landing. Second was a low-and-slow approach type, and his first landing with that guy had him ready to bail out! To this day he can drop right onto a short runway with ease. He always said “altitude is my friend”, one to have but hope you never needed in a clutch.
Need Don Bateman’s GPWS?
‘Too Low Gear’
Yes, stable approach, ‘fly the numbers’.
Which should help cope with surprises like gusts.
I read herein that some pilots of single engine airplanes stay high in case engine quits just before runway.
First, data needs to be retrieved. Are these the “I only fly once every 6 months in blue skies” people? Or are they seasoned airline pilots flying 15 hours a month in their Bonanza? Bad training and ZERO annual training leads to shiddy pilots. Yes, it CAN happen to anyone but much less likely to happen to pilots who fly regularly. As for the gear up while on the ground why has no one come up with a WOW lockout 337? Poor engineering or money saving “ethics” created a plane that you can actually put the gear up while on the ground AND put it right next to the flap handle ??!! Finally, move or make repeater gear lights and place it UP IN FRONT OF THE PILOT rather than hidden low behind the yoke. READ AND DO the checklist. Thats why it’s REQUIRED by the FAA. No one has ever landed gear up after doing the checklist diligently. Confirming the gear is down on EVERY plane you fly builds a great habit when you move into a retractable airplane. “Gear down and welded” was my reply back in the Cessna 172 days. To not train that way means you don’t understand the law of primacy.