Wheels up landing involving a Piper PA-34-200, VH-SVS, Parafield, South Australia, on 12 January 1995

It was reported that the aircraft was being used for endorsement training. On the second approach it was observed to land heavily and bounce back into the air. The aircraft then touched down again, nosewheel first, before the nosewheel collapsed and the aircraft slid to a stop.

It is probable that the pilot, who was undergoing endorsement training, misjudged the final part of the approach and allowed the aircraft to land heavily. His recovery action, following the bounce, was inappropriate as he allowed the aircraft to touch down nosewheel first. The instructor-pilot did not take over in time to prevent the bounced landing or the misjudged recovery.

A post-accident inspection indicated that whilst the nosewheel had folded back, following separation of the retraction/extension rod, neither of the main landing gear legs were locked down at the time of the final touchdown. The pilots reported that the gear lights were green, indicating that they were down and locked, prior to the first landing and that the landing gear warning horn had not sounded during the approach. The evidence indicates that the landing gear may have been inadvertently selected up during the attempted recovery from the bounced landing.