Accident Summary
On Thursday, August 25, 2016, a Hawker Beechcraft G58, registered JA5807, operated by the Independent Administrative Institution Civil Aviation College, made a belly landing on Runway 27 at Sendai Airport during a training flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including scratch marks on the underside surface, deformation of keels, bending of propeller blades, and deformed damage to internal parts of the flaps. No injuries were reported.
Flight Details
The aircraft took off from Runway 27 at around 13:32 JST for continuous touch-and-go trainings. The crew consisted of an instructor (captain) in the right pilot seat, a student (Student A) in the left pilot seat acting as pilot flying (PF), another student (Student B) in the right rear seat acting as pilot monitoring (PM), and a third student (Student C) in the left rear seat as an observer. All students held commercial pilot certificates for single-engine land airplanes and were undergoing initial training for a multi-engine type rating.
Sequence of Events
Before takeoff, the instructor checked the forward cabin door and found the lever slightly off from the locked position. He considered the door closed based on the room light and touch, but a wind whistle was heard during flight. During the downwind leg, Student B reported the wind whistle to the instructor. The instructor attempted to tighten the door lever but could not improve it. He decided to retighten the door during the next landing roll and continue the touch-and-go training.
While holding before the base leg, Student A performed a postponed checklist and became aware of a warning horn and a gear-up annunciator activation due to a caution from Student B. Student A reset the annunciator. The aircraft received several ATC instructions and the instructor advised on speed and altitude. At 13:38:45, the instructor called for flaps down and set them. As the aircraft approached the runway, Student A called for a landing checklist. Student B read out "LANDING GEAR" and Student A responded "DOWN THREE GREEN" without recalling confirming the gear extension. The instructor heard the callout and thought the gear was down but did not confirm it.
Landing and Aftermath
The aircraft entered a high approach angle with all four PAPI units showing white. At around 13:40, during the flare, the propeller blades contacted the runway, leading to a belly landing. The aircraft rolled and stopped. The instructor realized the landing gear was not extended and attempted to extend it, but it was too late. The IC recorder captured a discontinuous warning horn from the downwind leg until the main power was shut off.
Investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board investigated the accident. The United States, as the state of design and manufacture, did not designate an accredited representative. The report provides factual information but does not state a probable cause.