What happened
On 25 November 2019, a Beechcraft BE76, registration EC-INC, was conducting a dual instruction flight at La Axarquía Aerodrome (LEAX) in Málaga, Spain. The flight crew, consisting of a flight instructor, a student pilot, and an instructor observer, was performing various training maneuvers, including a simulated engine failure procedure.
During the third and final takeoff/approach sequence, the crew was executing a simulated engine failure. As the aircraft approached the runway, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. The aircraft touched down on the runway, resulting in significant contact between the airframe and the ground. The impact caused damage to the landing gear and the underside of the aircraft. All occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause of the accident was the failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown. The student pilot, who was flying the aircraft, did not actuate the gear lever during the approach.
While the aircraft was in the landing phase, the crew was managing an engine failure simulation, which increased the cognitive workload. The investigation found that the student pilot'ed focus was diverted by the task of managing the simulated engine failure, leading to the omission of the landing gear extension. Furthermore, the instructor did not intervene to correct the error.
Technical analysis confirmed that the aircraft's landing gear system was fully functional and that there were no mechanical failures preventing the gear from extending. The investigation also noted that the crew was distracted by radio communications with other aircraft in the vicinity during the final stages of the approach.
Safety Recommendations
The investigation concluded that the lack of monitoring by the instructor and the high workload during emergency simulations contributed to the incident. The following recommendations were noted to improve flight safety during training operations.