What happened
On April 22, 2017, a Diamond DA42 NG, registration SX-BEO, departed from the runway 05R of Kavala/Megas Alexandros Airport (LGKV) for a scheduled training flight. The flight, operated by Egnatia Aviation Ltd, was intended to simulate asymmetric thrust maneuvers and perform touch-and-go landings. The crew consisted of one instructor and one student pilot.
Shortly after takeoff, while at approximately 500 feet, the instructor initiated the asymmetric thrust simulation by reducing one engine to idle power. This action triggered continuous visual and aural warnings indicating that the landing gear remained in the retracted position. As the aircraft progressed through the downwind leg, the student pilot struggled with the increased workload of managing the asymmetric thrust while attempting to perform required 'C.A.S.H.I.F.' checklists from memory due to high task saturation.
During the base leg, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude, resulting in an unstabilized approach. The student pilot reported significant difficulty maintaining directional control and managing the various cockpit warnings. Upon reaching the final approach, the instructor decided to proceed with the landing rather than executing a go-around. The aircraft touched down on the runway with its landing gear still retracted. The aircraft slid along the runway, supported by the engine nacelles and side steps, causing substantial damage to the propeller blades, engine cowlings, and flaps.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers and the crew's management of the simulated emergency. The board examined the student pilot's experience level, noting he had only 3 hours of flight time in this specific aircraft type. Investigators also reviewed the cockpit environment, specifically the continuous aural warning that had been sounding since the engine power was reduced. The investigation looked into why the landing gear was not deployed during the base leg and why the crew failed to complete the final approach checklists.
Findings
- The student pilot lacked sufficient experience with the Diamond DA42 NG to effectively manage asymmetric thrust and complex checklists simultaneously.
- The instructor's attention was primarily focused on assisting the student with aircraft control, which led to a failure to initiate a go-around during the unstabilized approach.
- The crew became desensitized to the continuous gear-up warning chime because it had been sounding for an extended period.
- The landing gear was not deployed because the specific procedure for gear extension during asymmetric thrust training was not included in the operator's official checklists.
- The student pilot performed checklists from memory rather than using a written checklist due to high workload.