What happened
The flight crew reported that the flight proceeded without incident from the departure point to the initial navigation fix. During the final approach phase, the first officer was operating the aircraft controls. According to the crew, all pre-landing checklist items had been completed prior to the landing attempt.
Upon reaching the runway threshold, the aircraft made ground contact with the landing gear in the retracted position. The captain immediately assumed control of the aircraft and executed a go-around maneuver. Following this, the crew attempted to lower the landing gear manually. During the subsequent sequence, the right engine shut down. Despite these complications, the crew managed to complete an uneventful landing.
The investigation
Three independent witnesses observed the approach and landing phases, stating that the landing gear remained in the up position throughout the entire duration of the descent and final approach. This visual confirmation aligned with the crew's account of the gear not extending automatically.
A thorough examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the root cause of the malfunction. Investigators inspected the landing gear components and associated systems for any signs of mechanical failure. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure was found with the landing gear components or system. The investigation could not identify a specific mechanical defect that caused the gear to remain retracted.
Findings
The primary finding centers on the uncommanded retraction or failure to extend of the landing gear during the final phase of flight. The discrepancy between the completed checklist items and the physical state of the aircraft suggests a potential procedural oversight or an undetected system anomaly that did not leave physical evidence of failure. The manual extension attempt was successful in lowering the gear, but the incident required significant crew intervention to ensure safety.
Safety message
This incident highlights the critical importance of cross-verification during landing configurations. Even when checklists are completed, visual confirmation or alternative indicators may be necessary to ensure all systems are in the correct state before final approach.