What happened
On August 19, 2015, a privately owned Piper PA-28R-201, registered JA4193, was conducting a practical examination for commercial pilot certification. The flight, which included the pilot-in-command, an examiner, and an instructor, departed Sapporo Airfield for a series of maneuvers including navigation and touch-and-go landings.
During the examination, the aircraft was performing a power-off accuracy approach. Due to ongoing flight inspections at the airfield, the aircraft had been held in a pattern, which altered the timing of the maneuvers. While executing the approach, the pilot encountered challenging wind conditions. After a previously executed go-around, the pilot entered a short downwind leg. During this phase, the pilot was focused on managing airspeed and altitude while also responding to corrections from the examiner regarding radio communications.
In the process of managing the aircraft's descent and speed, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. The aircraft subsequently made a belly landing on the runway at Sapporo Airfield. While the impact caused significant damage to the aircraft's fuselage, engine cowling, and propeller, there were no injuries to the three occupants.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight history, aircraft condition, and cockpit communications. The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the power-off accuracy approach and the cockpit environment. Investigators reviewed the pilot's workload, noting that the pilot was heavily concentrated on maneuvering the aircraft under specific wind conditions. The investigation also looked into why the landing gear warning horn and lights were not noticed by the pilot or the observers on board.