What happened
On August 5, 2022, a Piper PA-31 was conducting a non-scheduled passenger flight from Aeródromo Teniente Vidal (SCCY) to Aeródromo de Chile Chico (SCCC) in the Aysén Region of Chile. As the aircraft approached its destination, the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear, but the right main gear failed to lock into position.
Upon noticing that the green down-and-locked light for the right main gear had not illuminated, the pilot decided to return to the departure airfield, which served as the operator's base. During the return flight, the pilot made multiple attempts to cycle the landing gear, but the gear remained unextended. The pilot subsequently declared an emergency and performed a gear-up landing on runway 03 at Aeródromo Teniente Vidal. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway with the landing gear retracted. All six occupants (one pilot and five passengers) were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft and the flight circumstances at the scene. The investigation noted that the aircraft was found tilted toward the right side on the runway. Physical inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to the fuselage, the right flap, and the landing gear components. Specifically, the nose gear door panels showed wear and material loss, and the left main gear door was deformed. Both propellers exhibited deformation and material loss at the tips, likely due to the sudden stop during the landing.
Investigators also reviewed maintenance records, which showed that a 50-hour inspection had been completed on July 17, 2022, just weeks before the event. This inspection specifically included checking the hydraulic actuators for the main landing gear for leaks and installation security, with no discrepancies noted at that time. The investigation also noted that the emergency hydraulic hand pump lever had been left in the extended and unsecured position following the pilot's attempts to fix the gear.
Findings
- The right main landing gear failed to lock in the extended position.
- The pilot attempted to rectify the gear malfunction by cycling the landing gear multiple times during the return flight to the departure aerodrome.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propellers, landing gear doors, and fuselage skin due to the gear-up landing.
- The aircraft's maintenance records indicated that the hydraulic actuators had been inspected for leaks shortly before the accident with no issues reported.