What happened
On February 4, 2011, a Piper PA-34, registration CS-DEV, was conducting a personnel verification flight at the Aeródromo Municipal de Évora. The flight, which included a flight instructor and a student pilot, was part of a multi-engine qualification exam. During the final stages of the mission, the instructor simulated an engine failure by reducing power on engine number one while on a tailwind approach to runway 01.
As the instructor performed the necessary failure procedures and checklists, the student pilot maintained control of the aircraft. The instructor chose a 2/5 flap configuration and maintained power on the operating engine to ensure sufficient airspeed. However, due to difficulties establishing communication with the aerodrome tower amidst heavy traffic, the instructor became distracted. Consequently, the landing gear was not extended. The tower personnel noticed the gear was up and attempted to alert the crew, but the aircraft was already at an altitude of approximately 3 meters when the error was identified. The aircraft struck the runway with the lower fuselage and propeller tips, sliding across the asphalt before coming to rest on the grass off the runway.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the crew's operational procedures. The investigation focused on the division of tasks between the instructor and the student, the effectiveness of the checklists, and the communication environment at the aerodrome. The investigators also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records and the functionality of the landing gear indication system.
Findings
- The instructor failed to extend the landing gear and confirm its position through the checklist or visual indicators.
- The instructor's attention was diverted by attempts to establish radio contact with the tower due to high traffic volume.
- The landing gear's audible warning was inhibited because the power on the operating engine remained above 14" PA during the approach.
- There was a lack of effective Crew Resource Management (CRM) and multi-crew coordination, as the training syllabus was structured more for single-pilot operations rather than multi-crew principles.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage to the fuselage, wheel hub covers, nose gear doors, and propeller tips.
- Both crew members were uninjured.
Safety action
- The GPIAAF recommended that the Academia Aeronáutica de Évora place greater emphasis on the application of CRM concepts.
- The academy should implement a training syllabus that incorporates multi-crew operation principles, specifically regarding the execution of procedures and the verification of checklists during multi-engine operations.