What happened
On November 30, 2015, an Aero Vodochlar L39C, registration ES-TLS, was conducting a type rating extension flight at Nîmes Garons aerodrome. The flight, which included an instructor and a pilot, began at Istres-le-Tubé to perform several training maneuvers, including engine power reduction exercises and landing approaches without flaps.
To adhere to a pre-planned flight duration, the pilot decided to shorten the final circuit. During the downwind leg, the pilot was preoccupied with monitoring other aircraft operating in the circuit, which delayed the configuration of the aircraft for landing. As the aircraft entered the final turn, the instructor provided verbal instructions regarding throttle position. This interaction interrupted the pilot's configuration sequence. While the pilot deployed the air brakes to manage excessive speed, the landing gear was not extended. The aircraft subsequently touched down on the runway with the landing gear retracted, resulting in heavy damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined several contributing factors, including the cockpit environment and the aircraft's systems. The investigation noted that the aircraft was equipped with an audible warning for landing gear non-extension; however, this alarm did not trigger when the flaps were retracted.
Investigators also reviewed the operational context. The pilot had significant total flight time but very limited experience on this specific type, with only 22 hours total and none in the preceding three months. The instructor, while highly experienced, admitted to a lapse in vigilance due to overconfidence in the pilot's abilities. Furthermore, the pilot's workload was increased by the need to self-monitor the circuit at an uncontrolled aerodrome and the pressure to complete the flight within the operator's recommended one-hour duration for extension flights.