Factual Information
On 23 February 2010, at approximately 12:30 local time, a Diamond DA-42 aircraft, registration A6-FTZ, operated by Horizon International Flight Academy, departed from Al Ain International Airport, United Arab Emirates. The flight was a multi-engine instructor instrument rating skill test with two crew members on board: a flight examiner and an examinee pilot, who was the handling pilot.
At approximately 13:52, during landing on Runway 01 at the same airport, the aircraft contacted the runway without landing gear extension. The initial contact was with the tail skid, followed by the propellers, foot-steps, and the lower part of both engine cowlings. The aircraft came to a full stop on the runway near intersection B.
All propellers and exhaust tubes were damaged, along with the lower part of the engine cowlings, foot-steps, and antennas, consistent with a wheels-up landing. No crew injuries were reported.
Analysis
The investigation determined that the landing gear was not extended prior to touchdown. The crew did not complete and verify the landing checklist. This error of omission was attributed to various distractions combined with the high workload of the handling pilot, accentuated by an initial ATC interaction and later a low fuel warning light.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the serious incident was an error of omission in the checklist due to various distractions combined with the high workload of the handling pilot (examinee), accentuated by most probably initially an ATC interaction and later a low fuel warning light, resulting in the crew not completing and verifying the landing checklist prior to landing.