On February 23, 1998, at 1038 central daylight time, a Cessna 210M airplane, N7354M, was substantially damaged during an in-flight fire and gear up landing at the Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette, Louisiana. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Lafayette Regional Airport approximately 1030, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he performed a preflight inspection that included a visual inspection inside the engine cowling and a check of the engine oil, followed by a run-up. No abnormalities were detected during the preflight or run-up. The airplane departed runway 04L for an area 26 miles west of the Lafayette Regional Airport, where he planned to take aerial photographs. The pilot reported that he had "not gone more than eight miles from the airport, when [he] started to smell smoke." He stated that the "smoke smelled like wires burning." He observed white smoke coming from under the instrument panel on the co-pilot's side and "shortly" thereafter the engine "began to surge." The pilot turned the airplane back towards Lafayette Regional Airport and was cleared to land on runway 11. He was unable to extend the gear using the gear selector switch and began to use the emergency gear pump to lower the gear. While attempting to pump the gear down he noticed a fire that "looked to be around the hydraulic reservoir on the co-pilot's side." The pilot realized that there was no pressure on the emergency gear pump and prepared for a gear up landing. As the airplane approached the airport the pilot realized that runway 04R was more suitable. A gear up landing was executed and the airplane came to rest upright on runway 04R. The pilot stated that "he exited the airplane and a fire crew extinguished the fire." A representative from Cessna Aircraft Company examined the airplane. The examination revealed that the left side of the nose gear well was burned in the vicinity of the fuel line that connects the fuel pump to the strainer. The squat switch wires, which are normally secured to the nose gear strut, were found loose and not secured to any structure. The squat switch wires were crimped and the protective casing around the wire was burned away at the crimped area. The fuel lines were pressurized and no fuel leaks were observed within the nose gear well. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site and stated that the fire had burned a hole in the engine firewall.