BEECH A36

Full Narrative

On August 20, 2014, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N3084Z, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by 7 Yrs 700, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed South Bend International Airport (SBN), about 1600.The pilot reported that he had flown a practice instrument landing system approach (ILS) to runway 26L and upon touchdown he heard the airplane's lower fuselage scraping the runway. The pilot stated that he failed to extend the landing gear because he had been distracted with flying the practice instrument approach.

A postaccident examination revealed abrasion damage along the airplane keel beam, several structural frames, and the lower fuselage skin. The landing gear extended normally after it was hoisted off the runway during recovery. No anomalies were identified with the landing gear extension system that would have prevented normal operation.

At 1653, the GRR automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported: wind 250 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 20 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 3,400 feet above ground level (agl) and 9,000 feet agl; temperature 26 degrees Celsius; dew point 19 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury.