What happened
On January 31, 2004, a FAIRCHILD SA226-TC (METRO II), registration EC-HCU, was performing a positioning flight from Reus Airport to Barcelona Airport for scheduled maintenance. During the takeoff roll on runway 07, the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 80 knots when the nose gear unexpectedly retracted.
As a result of the gear retraction, the aircraft continued down the runway for about half its length, supported by the main landing gear and the forward fuselage. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway. The impact caused significant damage to the forward fuselage, both engines, and both propellers, as well as fuel and methanol leaks. The two crew members on board escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the landing gear and the cockpit procedures. Functional tests performed on the aircraft while on jacks showed that the landing gear system was operating correctly, with no mechanical failures detected. It was noted that the landing gear lever lacks any protection against inadvertent movement; a light touch is sufficient to move the lever to the "up" position. Additionally, the lever's travel is short, and its cockpit placement requires careful monitoring to confirm its status.
Maintenance personnel stated that the aircraft had recently undergone tasks involving the landing gear. Due to the approaching airport closing time, there was some haste in completing the maintenance and handing the aircraft over to the crew. Upon inspection following the accident, mechanics found the landing gear lever in the "up" position, although the main gear remained locked in the "down" position.
While the crew's checklists included specific steps to verify that the landing gear was down, the pilot in command noted that although they had been informed prior to boarding that the lever was up, they did not personally verify this specific item.
Findings
- The nose gear retraction was caused by the landing gear lever being in the "up" position.
- The aircraft had reached sufficient speed during the takeoff roll that a small bump or oscillation likely triggered the weight-on-wheels sensor, satisfying the safety condition required for gear retraction.
- The lever was in the retracted position either because the crew failed to complete the required checklist items, the aircraft was handed over by maintenance with the lever up, or the lever was inadvertently moved by the crew during pre-flight operations.