What happened
On February 16, 2018, a Diamond DA-42-NG, registration EC-LUF, was performing a series of takeoff and landing maneuvers at Seville Airport (LEZL). The flight was a dual instruction session operated by a flight training organization, with the aircraft traveling from Jerez to Seville under VFR conditions.
During the final takeoff roll of the session, the student pilot moved the landing gear selector to the "UP" position while the aircraft was still in contact with runway 09. As the pilot increased power to reach 70 knots, the main landing gear partially retracted, causing the left wing to strike the ground. The instructor immediately took control, moved the gear selector to the "DOWN" position, and reduced power to stabilize the aircraft. Despite these efforts, the outer edge of the right wing also impacted the runway, and the aircraft came to a stop with the left wingtip and tail in contact with the pavement. Both the instructor and the student pilot were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft on their own.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the cockpit instrumentation, and the operational procedures of the training school. Investigators analyzed the landing gear system, including the safety switches and cockpit indicators, finding no mechanical failures or malfunctions in the gear mechanism or the "GEAR UNSAFE" warning system. The investigation also reviewed the training school's standard operating procedures regarding student-instructor communication during takeoff and landing maneuvers.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the premature retraction of the landing gear while the aircraft was still on the ground.
- The student pilot acted with haste, failing to wait for instructor confirmation before executing the gear retraction and neglecting the "GEAR UNSAFE" indication.
- The instructor's supervision was inadequate, as the instructor was primarily focused on maintaining directional control on the runway.
- An excess of confidence in the student's performance, given they were in the final stages of training, contributed to the oversight.
- The training organization lacked a formal, written procedure defining the specific roles and communication protocols for instructors and students during takeoff and landing maneuvers in retractable gear aircraft.