What happened
On April 24, 2014, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration PR-OPJ, was conducting a private flight when the pilot noticed an anomaly in the fuel system. Specifically, the pilot observed that the header tank was emptying faster than normal and that the wing tanks were not being consumed as expected. Fearing a fuel exhaustion event, the pilot decided to return to Sorable Aerodrome (SDCO).
During the return flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern and proceeded with the approach. However, the landing gear was not extended. Witnesses and security camera footage confirmed the aircraft was approaching the runway with the landing gear retracted. As the aircraft neared the ground, the pilot noted the plane was lower than usual for a landing but did not initiate a go-around. The aircraft subsequently touched down with the gear up, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, flaps, propeller, and engine. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's systems and the pilot's actions. Post-accident inspections revealed that the landing gear system was fully functional and that the fuel selector valve worked normally, which replenished the header tank once activated. The investigation determined that the pilot had performed engine starts and pre-flight checks at the departure airfield, but failed to set the fuel selector valve to the correct position, leaving it closed.
As the flight progressed, the pilot noticed the declining level in the header tank but did not realize this was due to the closed valve, instead assuming a system malfunction. In an effort to land as quickly as possible to avoid running out of fuel, the pilot bypassed the landing gear extension sequence. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was above the maximum weight limit for the landing.
Findings
- Pilot error regarding the fuel selector valve
- The pilot's failure to properly set the fuel selector valve during pre-flight checks.
- The pilot's lack of experience, having only approximately 10 hours of flight time in this specific model.
- The pilot's decision to prioritize a rapid landing over following standard landing procedures, which led to the omission of the gear extension.