What happened
During the approach for landing, the pilot initiated the sequence to lower the landing gear. Upon completion of this action, the pilot did not receive a safe indication confirming that the gear was fully locked in the down position. Despite the lack of positive confirmation from the indicator lights or mechanical cues, the gear appeared to be visually down.
As the aircraft touched down and began the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed. The collapse occurred while the aircraft was still on the ground, resulting in significant damage to the undercarriage structure. The warning horn, which typically sounds when throttles are retarded with the gear up, did not activate during this phase, likely because the system interpreted the gear as down or the mechanism failed to trigger the alarm.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the landing gear system to determine the root cause of the collapse. The inspection focused on the mechanical linkages, hydraulic components, and electrical indicators associated with the gear operation.
The examination did not reveal an obvious mechanical failure or reason for the gear collapse during the initial assessment. However, the extent of the damage sustained during the impact was severe enough to preclude verification of proper rigging within the system. The structural deformation made it impossible to confirm whether the gear was correctly rigged or if a subtle misalignment contributed to the failure.
Findings
The primary finding centers on the discrepancy between the pilot's perception and the actual status of the landing gear. The lack of a safe indication created uncertainty, yet the visual appearance suggested the gear was down. This ambiguity may have influenced the pilot's decision to proceed with the landing without further verification.
The collapse of the nose gear during the landing roll indicates that the gear was not securely locked or supported as intended. The failure of the warning horn to sound when throttles were retarded suggests a potential issue with the proximity switches or the warning system itself, although the damage prevented definitive testing of these components.
Safety message
Pilots should always verify landing gear status using multiple sources of information, including visual confirmation from other aircraft if available, rather than relying solely on indicator lights or the absence of warnings. In cases where indications are ambiguous or conflicting, a go-around or further troubleshooting may be necessary to ensure safe deployment of the landing gear.