What happened
On April 24, 2014, a Raytheon 58, registration PT-XBM, was performing a ferry flight from São Félix do Araguaia, Mato Grosso, to Americana, São Paulo. During the approach to Americana Aerodrome (SDAI), the pilot noticed that the left main landing gear failed to indicate as locked in the down position.
After contacting a local maintenance facility to request a visual inspection of the gear, the pilot performed six low approaches over the runway. The crew attempted to deploy the landing gear using both the normal and emergency extension procedures, but the left gear remained retracted. Consequently, the pilot decided to proceed with a gear-up landing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records and the flight conditions, noting that the pilot held valid medical and instrument ratings and that the weather was favorable for flight. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate and maintenance logs were up to date.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the aircraft had been moved to clear the runway before authorization from the investigating authority. Furthermore, a broken landing gear component—the left-hand braze assembly rod—was removed from the aircraft without oversight. While laboratory analysis of the removed part at the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) indicated a fracture caused by an overload, investigators noted that the unauthorized removal and alteration of the evidence prevented a definitive conclusion regarding the exact cause of the component's failure.