The pilot was familiarising himself with the Sidelinger replica Hurricane before continuing with a flight test program that had already been partly completed by another pilot. He conducted one circuit and landing with the landing gear down. After a short break he took off again and departed the airfield for aerial work. After take-off he retracted the landing gear and noted a normal gear-up cockpit indication.
On return to the airfield, the pilot selected the landing gear down but received an unsafe gear cockpit indication. He checked the landing gear circuit breaker was in and then cycled the selector lever twice more but without success. He then attempted to lower the landing gear using the emergency lowering method. He reported, however, that the emergency lowering system would not operate.
Committed to a gear up landing, the pilot elected to land on the 270 degree grass strip. The pilot said that he approached at minimum speed and touched down tail wheel first with throttle closed and the fuel and electrical systems secured. The aircraft then skimmed along on the underside air scoop before eventually nosing forward and damaging the propeller and air intake. The owner subsequently reported the cause of the landing gear failing to lower via the normal system was a faulty selector switch. The reason why the emergency lowering system would not operate was not determined.