What happened
On February 3, 2020, a TECNAM P2006T, registration SP-LFA, was engaged in a series of training flights for a CPL(A) license at Piotrków Trybunalski Airport (EPPT). The aircraft was performing the 28th flight in a sequence of maneuvers designed to simulate emergency situations, including engine failures and aborted takeoffs.
During the approach to landing on runway 23, the aircraft landed without its landing gear extended. After making contact with the asphalt runway on its belly, the aircraft traveled approximately 120 meters before veering 90 degrees to the left. The aircraft eventually came to a halt with the fuselage partially positioned off the paved runway surface.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the gear-up landing and the coordination between the crew. The investigation established that the student pilot believed they were required to continue a previously aborted approach maneuver. During this maneuver, the student pilot mistakenly retracted the landing gear instead of adjusting the flap settings.
Simultaneously, the instructor intended to conclude the training session and had instructed the student to proceed with a standard landing. The instructor noted that during the Before Landing Checklist, the landing gear lights indicated that the gear was down; however, the instructor failed to notice that the gear had actually been retracted. Post-incident technical inspections confirmed that the landing gear system was fully functional and operating without defects.
Findings
- Improper communication between the instructor and the student pilot during the training flight.
- Crew fatigue, resulting from a high volume of intensive training maneuvers requiring significant concentration, contributed to the errors.
- The training maneuvers were being conducted without sufficient breaks for crew discussion or rest.