Incident Overview
On 27 June 2009, at 14:45 UTC, a single-engine SOCATA TB20 aircraft, registration CS-DEU and operated by Academia Aeronáutica de Évora (AAE), executed a wheels-up landing on runway 19 at Évora aerodrome. The aircraft was on a solo training flight with a student pilot as the sole occupant. The pilot exited the aircraft unaided and reported no injuries.
Flight History
The student pilot, flying under the callsign Diana 14, approached Évora via the Echo and India waypoints. At Echo, the pilot reported altitude 2,500 ft and requested traffic information. The Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) agent reported no conflicting traffic and requested a tailwind report for runway 19. The agent then asked for the aircraft's position and notified that parachute jumping was in progress near the runway. Diana 14 reported entering the tailwind leg and suggested proceeding to November point due to another aircraft holding at India, but the AFIS agent indicated a closed circuit was acceptable. The pilot acknowledged and continued to final approach.
During the final approach, the pilot saw parachutists close to the runway and considered landing conditions acceptable. On short final, the aircraft was high relative to the runway with the landing gear retracted. The pilot extended flaps and reduced engine power. The AFIS agent provided runway condition (clear to land) and surface wind direction and intensity. To reduce speed and altitude, the pilot selected flaps to the landing position. Very close to the runway, the pilot selected the landing gear down but did not confirm the green down-and-locked indications. The aircraft touched down with the gear up, sustaining damage.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades, flaps, and lower fairings. No third-party damage occurred. The student pilot was uninjured.
Pilot Information
The student pilot was a 24-year-old male holding an ATPL(A) license, valid until 29 July 2009. His total flight experience was 141:30 hours, with 36:00 hours on type. In the last 90 days he had flown 63:45 hours, all on type. His last medical examination was on 6 April 2009 with no restrictions.
Aircraft Information
The SOCATA TB20 (serial number 1857, manufactured 1998) was equipped with a Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D engine (serial L27902-401) and a Hartzell HC-C2YK-1BF propeller. Total airframe hours were 6489:15; engine hours since overhaul 2142:40. The last inspection was on 4 June 2009. The aircraft had a retractable tricycle landing gear with hydraulic extension/retraction. The gear selector lever is on the right side of the left panel and has two positions. A red light illuminates when the gear is in transit; three green lights indicate down and locked. A warning horn activates via a microswitch on the throttle when power is reduced to idle and via another microswitch connected to the flaps when they are extended beyond 10° with the gear retracted.
Meteorological Information
Weather at the time: scattered clouds, wind 260° at 14 knots.
Communications
Two-way communications with Évora AFIS on VHF were established.
Aerodrome Information
Évora aerodrome has a single asphalt runway with QFU 01/19, 1,300 m long and 23 m wide.
Landing Gear Testing
After the incident, the aircraft was sent to AAE maintenance services. The landing gear system was tested and found to have no anomalies or malfunctions.
Additional Information
The investigation found that the student pilot did not complete the landing checklist, which includes verification of gear down, due to high workload and psychological pressure from the concurrent parachute jumping activity near the runway. The pilot selected gear down only moments before touchdown and did not confirm the green lights.
Probable Cause: Wheels-up landing due to omission of landing gear extension by the student pilot before landing.