What happened
On 24 August 2022, a PA-34-200T Seneca II, registration SP-ROY, was conducting training flights for a multi-engine aeroplane (MEPL(A)) rating at EPML. The crew, consisting of an instructor and a student, had completed several successful circuits and exercises, including landing gear extension practice.
During the seventh circuit, while on the base leg, the student moved the landing gear lever to the down position. As the aircraft approached short final, the instructor became uncertain regarding the landing gear's position and repeatedly moved the lever up and down. Simultaneously, the student noted concerns regarding circuit breaker settings and failed to notice that the nose wheel was not locked, an indication that should have been visible in the engine cowling mirror.
During the flare, the instructor attempted to abort the landing by increasing engine power and taking control. However, the lower fuselage contacted the runway, and the propeller blades struck the concrete. After gaining altitude, the instructor extended the landing gear using the aircraft's alternate system, though some steps from the Flight Manual were omitted. The landing gear extension was eventually confirmed by an aerodrome flight information officer. The aircraft sustained damage but landed safely; there were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the mechanical and procedural aspects of the landing gear extension. Maintenance personnel discovered that the circuit breaker for the landing gear indication in the cockpit had been switched off. Subsequent inspections and functional tests of the landing gear system revealed no mechanical irregularities or malfunctions in the gear's operation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the late decision by the pilot-in-command to abort the landing.
- The crew failed to follow the procedures outlined in the Flight Manual regarding the verification of the landing gear position prior to landing.
- A contributing factor was the possibility that the instructor's routine-driven actions led to the omission of specific items from the landing procedure checklist.