What happened
On November 11, 2022, at approximately 14:30 UTC, an Embraer EMB-820C (registration PT-LDC) was performing a local aerial survey flight at Orlando Bezerra de Menezes Airport (SBJU) in Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil. The aircraft, operated by SAI Ltda., was returning from a mission approximately 85 NM to the east.
As the aircraft approached the traffic pattern for runway 13, the pilot was managing the arrival while another aircraft was performing an IFR procedure for the same runway. During the approach, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. The aircraft landed on the runway with the gear in the retracted position, traveling approximately 180 meters before coming to a stop. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, though the pilot and one passenger escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on why the landing gear was not deployed and why the pilot did not notice the configuration error. Investigators examined the aircraft's electrical systems and the pilot's flight management.
Technical testing of the aircraft's landing gear warning system revealed an intermittent failure. During fifteen simulated tests where the horn should have sounded, the failure occurred five times, suggesting a faulty relay in the buzzer circuit.
Regarding human factors, the investigation looked into the pilot's situational awareness and workload. The pilot had extensive experience, including 2,000 hours in this specific model, but investigators noted that the pilot's attention was divided by the presence of other traffic and a perceived time pressure related to a misunderstood NOTAM regarding runway closures. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot did not utilize the required checklists during the approach phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure to extend the landing gear due to a loss of situational awareness and selective perception.
- An intermittent failure in the landing gear warning horn prevented the pilot from receiving an audible alert during power reduction.
- The pilot's attention was divided by other aircraft operations and an incorrect interpretation of a NOTAM regarding airport operating hours.
- Overconfidence and a lack of checklist usage contributed to the omission of critical landing procedures.
- The pilot's decision-making and cockpit management were compromised by the high workload of a single-pilot operation during a complex arrival.