Event Summary
On 20 June 2019, a Cessna 172 RG aircraft, registration YR-ANG, operated by Fly Level S.R.L., was conducting a familiarization flight as part of a student pilot's training. The flight departed from Strejnic Aerodrome at 17:16 LT with the instructor pilot as the pilot flying. About 10 to 15 minutes after takeoff, the aerodrome control tower advised the pilots of deteriorating meteorological conditions, including wind intensification and cumulonimbus clouds, and requested an immediate return.
The approach and landing were performed on runway 08. According to aerodrome surveillance camera recordings, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted. The instructor pilot reported that he did not check the green indicator light confirming the landing gear was down and locked, nor did he hear the intermittent aural warning horn. During the landing flare, he noticed the aircraft was too low and felt the propeller blades contact the runway. He then switched off the master switch to shut down the engine and completed the landing with the gear retracted. The aircraft remained on the runway. The event was recorded at 17:46 LT (14:46 UTC).
Aircraft and Damage
The aircraft, a Cessna 172 RG manufactured in 1981 (serial number 172RG-0658), had a valid airworthiness certificate and 7,650 flight hours. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-360 engine and a two-blade metal propeller. The tricycle retractable landing gear was operated by a hydraulic system with an electric pump and a manual backup. Damage included a broken propeller, a destroyed ventral radio antenna, and damaged lower fuselage skin. No injuries were reported among the two occupants.
Investigation Findings
Post-incident testing of the landing gear warning system was conducted with the aircraft on jacks. The visual indicator system functioned normally. However, the aural warning system operated randomly when in an abnormal landing configuration; it sometimes only activated after striking the area near the left main landing gear down-and-locked switch. The aircraft's technical log contained no records of previous anomalies with the gear warning system.
The instructor pilot (male, 65, with 7,900 total flight hours, approximately 800 on type) stated that he did not verify the green down-and-locked light and did not hear the intermittent horn. The student pilot (male, 33, with 45 minutes of flight experience) was performing his second familiarization flight.
Meteorological conditions at the time included cloud cover of 5/8 to 7/8 with a base at 1,500 m, cumulonimbus, wind from NE initially with a tendency to E-SE and later from S at 5-8 m/s, temperature 21°C, QNH 1013 hPa, humidity 78%, and visibility over 10 km. A yellow code weather warning had been in effect since 10:00 LT, with expected wind intensification, thunderstorms, rain showers, and hail.