What happened
On March 22, 2002, at approximately 11:30 local time, a Mooney M20K-231, registration EC-FBY, was conducting a local flight near the La Iglesuela aerodrome in Toledo, Spain. The flight was intended to test various systems and equipment following the recent acquisition of the aircraft. During the flight, the pilot noticed that the oil pressure was dropping toward the lower limit of the operating range.
As the aircraft approached La Iglesuela, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing on runway 05. However, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft traveled approximately 280 meters along the runway before exiting to the right side, coming to a stop within 3 meters of the runway edge. The aircraft sustained important damage to the lower fuselage, extending from the nose gear door to the main wing spar, and the propeller blades were bent backward.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the landing gear system and the pilot's actions. During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot had noted an oil stain on the ground but confirmed that the oil level was within limits; post-accident inspections showed the level remained unchanged.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff phase of this flight, three attempts were required to successfully retract the landing gear. The pilot noted that the realization that the gear was not down was based on the aircraft's attitude rather than the cockpit warning lights. Upon post-accident testing with electrical power restored, the acoustic warning device was found to be functional, and the normal electric retraction mechanism operated correctly. The emergency extension system was not tested as it was not utilized during the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a failure of the landing gear actuation mechanism.
- The pilot's attention was likely diverted by the need to monitor the declining oil pressure, which may have led to the oversight regarding the gear position.