What happened
On November 11, 2017, at approximately 19:40 UTC, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, registration PT-OIY, was performing a private flight from Fazenda Primavera, RO, to Ji-Paraná, RO. The flight, which carried a pilot and one passenger, proceeded normally for 45 minutes under visual flight conditions.
During the descent into the Ji-Paraná Aerodrome (SBJI), the aircraft's windshields became fogged, necessitating the use of windshield heaters to restore visibility. Upon arrival at the traffic pattern for runway 03, the aircraft touched down with its landing gear in the retracted position. The impact caused the aircraft to slide along the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, the right engine propeller, and the right wingtip tank. Both occupants evacuated the aircraft through the main door and were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot held valid medical and flight instrument certifications, and the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits. The investigation focused on the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear and the lack of audible warning.
The pilot reported forgetting to lower the gear and stated that the landing gear warning horn was not heard. The passenger also reported not hearing the alarm. However, because the aircraft had been moved from the scene and the operator delayed notification, investigators were unable to verify the functional status of the landing gear system or the warning horn at the time of the occurrence.
Findings
- The pilot's workload increased due to the simultaneous need to manage fogged windshields and the lack of operational radio services at the destination aerodrome.
- The pilot failed to use the pre-landing checklist, which would have included the critical step of verifying the landing gear position.
- Memory failure regarding the gear extension was a contributing factor.
- The delay in notifying the investigation unit (SERIPA VII) was attributed to the local aerodrome's emergency plan not including the investigation agency in its initial activation sequence.