What happened
On July 21, 2023, a Tecnam P2006T, registration SP-LFG, was conducting a multi-engine (ME2) flight examination at EPPT. The aircraft, operated by LOT Flight Academy, was performing a landing pattern in a clean configuration with flaps set to zero. During the approach to landing, the crew failed to extend the landing gear. As a result, the aircraft touched down without the gear deployed, causing damage to the airframe structure and the lower fuselage skin. The crew members exited the aircraft on their own without sustaining any injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the gear-up landing, specifically examining the execution of the landing checklist and the coordination between the student pilot and the examiner. The investigation scrutinized the pre-flight briefing procedures, the adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (S0Ps), and the level of situational awareness maintained by both crew members during the final approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure to extend the landing gear for landing.
- The crew failed to properly execute the landing checklist and did not verify the landing gear position.
- Both the student pilot and the examiner experienced a loss of situational awareness.
- The pre-flight briefing was inadequate, as the crew failed to establish a specific point or procedure for gear extension.
- Discrepancies in the use of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) contributed to the error.
- There was a lack of effective monitoring and vigilance by the examiner, who failed to intervene when the student pilot performed the incorrect maneuver.