What happened
On September 9, 2016, at approximately 18:10 LMT, a licensed pilot was performing the fourth landing of the day at Piotrków Trybunalski airport (EPPT). During the approach, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. The Vivat L-13SE, registration SP-0067, operated by Aeroklub Ziemi Piotrkowskiej, touched down with the engine still running, which caused immediate damage to the propeller.
Following the initial contact, the aircraft bounced approximately one meter off the ground before settling flat. A second bounce occurred, after which the aircraft struck the ground nose-first while the engine was still operating. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the propeller, as well as damage to the lower and front engine cowlings. The investigation also identified potential damage to the engine's camshaft, the loosening of engine components, and possible breaches in the nitrogen-filled fuselage truss and overall airframe geometry.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of the landing and the pilot's actions. The investigation established that the pilot had performed several dozen flights in this specific aircraft type previously. The pilot attributed the failure to extend the landing gear to a lack of proper attention during the landing phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to extend the landing gear due to the pilot's improper distribution of attention during the landing.
- The pilot demonstrated an inability to effectively correct errors during the landing sequence.