Please check your gear
 

In the interest of all of our insurance rates, not to mention the value of your bird, please consider checking your gear three times on every approach: downwind, base, and final (and similar places for a straight in, like outer market, 1000' and short final or middle marker for an instrument approach). Also, reduce throttle (below 18", if I remember right, I don't have my service manual handy) with your gear up, and make sure your gear warning system works...

Don't forget to look outside and visually inspect the left main too, at least once. (I must admit, I have become lax about this.)

If you don't follow the above, you may get to be famous like this:

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 1227M Make/Model: C337 Description: 337, M337, MC337, T337B/C/D/E/F/H (Turb
Date: 10/06/2003 Time: 2215

Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Minor

LOCATION
City: CAMDENTON State: MO Country: US

DESCRIPTION
PILOT STATED HE DID NOT LOWER HIS LANDING GEAR AND LANDED GEAR UP. HIS
LANDING WARNING INDICATOR/ALARM DID NOT ACTIVATE. CAMDENTON, MO

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: AIZ 062215Z AUTO 0000KT 10SM LCR 23/13 A3004 RMK A01



OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Landing Operation: General Aviation

Departed: OSAGE BEACH, MO K15 Dep Date: 10/06/2003 Dep. Time: 2200
Destination: OSAGE BEACH, MO K15 Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing: N
Last Radio Cont: NONE
Last Clearance: NONE

FAA FSDO: KANSAS CITY, MO (CE05) Entry date: 10/07/2003


Kevin

I find it very helpful to have a wing-mounted mirror to visually check the gear. It is easier and less disorienting to look out to the left than to look behind you. A mirror will also tell you if the LG doors are closed. Of course the mirror only works at night, but it's better than nothing.

Mark

mirror
 

I have a mirror mounted out on the radar pod, and it provides a view of the nose gear as well as the right side wheel.

I check it every time, in the daylight of course. At night, in IMC, it's hard to see even the left main out the window, but I look every time anyway.

Another one...
 

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 81C Make/Model: C337 Description: 337, M337, MC337, T337B/C/D/E/F/H (Turb
Date: 10/08/2003 Time: 0005

Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
City: SAINT PAUL State: MN Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT LANDED GEAR UP ON RWY 14 AT LAKE ELMO ARPT. ST PAUL, MN

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: KSTP 072359Z 19007KT 10SM CLR 22/10 A2983



OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Landing Operation: General Aviation

Departed: UNKN Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: ST PAUL, MN 21D Flt Plan: IFR Wx Briefing: N
Last Radio Cont: CNCL IFR 10 MI E
Last Clearance: UNKN

FAA FSDO: MINNEAPOLIS, MN (GL15) Entry date: 10/08/2003

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** Report created 10/8/2003 Record 6 **
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I just fly slower, (on my 336) but land on 3 nice robber tires. it's a good trade for me. 155 MPH. and lot cheeper on annuals.

Francisco