What happened
On February 9, 2021, a commercial pilot was conducting a maintenance flight involving touch-and-go maneuvers at the La Victoria de Chacabuco Aerodrome (SCVH) in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. The flight originated from Eulogio Sánchez Aerodrome (SCTB).
As the pilot approached the runway for the first maneuver, they observed two other aircraft taxiing toward the head of runway 21. While monitoring these aircraft, the pilot performed a checklist but failed to complete the landing gear extension. During the initial contact with the runway, the pilot heard an audible alarm followed by a grinding noise. The propeller blades struck the asphalt, causing visible damage to the tips of all three blades. The pilot immediately executed a go-around and subsequently performed a full landing to inspect the damage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft, the runway, and the pilot's flight preparation. The investigation confirmed that the landing gear was retracted at the moment of impact. Physical evidence on the runway, including 106 distinct marks left by the propeller, corroborated the pilot's account.
Technical inspections of the Cessna 210L revealed no mechanical failures in the landing gear or engine systems that would have prevented extension. The investigation also found that the pilot had not verified the current airfield frequencies in the AIP Chile prior to the flight. The pilot had attempted to communicate on frequency 118.20, whereas the published TIBA frequency for the aerodrome was 126.75. This discrepancy led to a lack of response from the other aircraft on the ground, which subsequently distracted the pilot.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact of the propeller blades against the runway surface while the landing gear remained in the retracted position.
- The pilot experienced a loss of situational awareness due to distraction caused by observing other aircraft taxiing near the runway head.
- The pilot failed to confirm the correct, updated communication frequency for the destination aerodrome during flight planning.
- The use of an incorrect radio frequency prevented the pilot from receiving necessary information, contributing to the distraction and subsequent oversight during the checklist process.