Landing gear up during checkride maneuver

Casualties unknown • Covington, KY, US

A pilot performing a no-flap landing during a competency checkride touched down on the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position.

What happened

During a scheduled checkride intended to reassess the pilot's competency, the aircraft was being used for both a flight evaluation and a maintenance test involving aileron rigging. The crew included the pilot, a company check airman, and an FAA inspector.

The first maneuver of the flight was a no-flap landing. According to statements from all three occupants, the pilot experienced difficulty managing the aircraft while operating in the traffic pattern. Specifically, the pilot maintained speeds that were too slow and frequently manipulated the power settings.

During the approach, the pilot failed to call for the before-landing checklist. Consequently, the landing gear was not extended prior to touchdown. The check pilot noted that the landing gear warning horn activated briefly during the maneuver, but the pilot responded by adding power, which silenced the horn. The FAA inspector, seated in a passenger seat during takeoff and landing, was unaware that the gear remained retracted until after the aircraft touched down on the runway.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to follow the proper landing checklist and manage airspeed effectively resulted in the aircraft touching down with the landing gear retracted.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-11-09 Fairchild SA227-AC accident near Covington, KY?

A pilot performing a no-flap landing during a competency checkride touched down on the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-11-09 involved a Fairchild SA227-AC, registration N445AC, operated by Comair, Inc., at Covington, KY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to follow the proper landing checklist and manage airspeed effectively resulted in the aircraft touching down with the landing gear retracted.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X24573. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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