Incident
On Thursday, 26 June 2003, at 14:00 hours, a Piper PA-34-200T aircraft, registration EC-CTK, was engaged in a general aviation instruction flight under dual control. The flight departed from Cuatro Vientos airport to the Casarrubios del Monte aerodrome in Toledo with the intention of performing touch-and-go landings. After four or five touch-and-goes, the aircraft stopped for refueling. Following refueling, two more touch-and-goes were conducted. During the third touch-and-go, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft rolled approximately 250 meters on the nose and main landing gear before exiting the left side of the runway and coming to a stop at the edge.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a Piper PA-34-200T, powered by two Continental TSIO-360-E engines (one being an LTSIO-360-E). It held a valid airworthiness certificate renewed on 5 March 2003, valid until 5 February 2004, and was maintained according to its authorized maintenance program.
The pilot in command (instructor) was 31 years old, held a commercial pilot license, and had accumulated 1,978 total flight hours, with 114 hours on the type. The student, acting as pilot flying, had 163 total flight hours, including 24 hours on the type.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants (instructor and student) were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engines, propellers, and the lower forward fuselage. Propeller marks were left on the runway surface. No fire occurred.
Post-Accident Inspection and Tests
After the accident, when the aircraft was lifted to extend the nose gear for removal, the left main gear collapsed. It was then found that the right main gear was also not locked. Subsequent tests with the aircraft on jacks, using its own electrical power, showed that the landing gear system functioned correctly through multiple cycles. The time for gear extension was normal, with the main gears reaching the down-and-locked position before the nose gear by approximately three seconds. Microswitches and indicator lights operated properly. When the hydraulic pump was interrupted mid-travel, manually moving one main gear caused the other to retract further.
Statements
Witnesses observed the aircraft performing the earlier touch-and-goes with the gear retracted and extended normally. However, after the last takeoff, the gear remained extended throughout the circuit.
The instructor stated that after the second landing, the gear was not retracted. During the final circuit, the three green gear-down lights were checked twice, on downwind and final. On the third landing, the nose gear folded. After exiting the aircraft, airport personnel attempting to move the aircraft caused the left main gear to collapse.
Additional Information
The company's operations manual specified that the landing gear check is performed only during the final checklist, which includes mixture, propeller, gear (down and three green lights), flaps, and landing light. The gear was not retracted after the last takeoff, likely due to oversight or to protect the hydraulic pump from repeated cycling. The most probable explanation for the collapse is that the landing gear was in transition to the extended position when the aircraft touched down.