N6672BBeech A36 · 1979

On July 9, 2012, at 1025 eastern daylight time, a Hawker-Beechcraft A36, N6672B, was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing at Charleston Executive Airport (JZI), Charleston, South Carolina. The certificated airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Bartow Municipal Airport (BOW), Bartow, Florida, about 0820, and was destined for JZI. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot/owner was interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and he also provided a written statement. He stated that the airplane was in cruise flight when it experienced symptoms of an electrical failure and the alternator "fail" light illuminated. A normal deployment of the landing gear was unsuccessful, so the pilot had the passenger review the manual gear extension procedure, and then attempted to extend the gear. The pilot "confirmed" the landing gear handle would no longer rotate, but the electrical power loss precluded confirmation by the landing gear lights. The airplane completed a "no-bounce" landing and then settled to the runway on its belly, which resulted in substantial damage to airframe stringers and frames.

The pilot held multiple certificates and ratings, and was issued an FAA second class medical certificate on November 8, 2011. He reported 14,790 total hours of flight experience, 620 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model.

According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1979 and had accrued 3,776 total aircraft hours. The airplane's most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on January 21, 2012 at 3,733 total aircraft hours.

At 1015, the weather reported at JZI included clear skies and winds from 280 degrees at 9 knots. The temperature was 33 degrees C, the dew point was 23 degrees C, and the altimeter setting was 29.97 inches of mercury.

According to a mechanic that supervised recovery of the airplane from the runway, the airplane rested on its belly with the landing gear retracted. He said the gear was "maybe 5 percent" deployed, but remained retracted as the airplane was lifted with straps. Another mechanic entered the airplane, engaged the manual gear handle, and lowered the gear to the down and locked position. The battery master switch was turned on, and three green down-and-locked lights illuminated.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed damage consistent with the landing gear doors being closed during landing.