What happened
On January 20, 2005, at approximately 11:40 UTC, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registration I-EKIA, was performing a recreational flight departing from Verona Boscomantico Airport. During the flight, the pilot observed a red warning light indicating the landing gear was not extended, though the audible alarm failed to trigger. Following an initial attempt to resolve the issue by extending the gear, the pilot performed a second takeoff. During this subsequent flight, the pilot noted the red warning light was again illuminated while flying in a lee side condition. In an attempt to test the audible alarm, the pilot reduced engine power, but the alarm remained silent. Consequently, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear for the final approach. The aircraft subsequently landed on the runway with the gear retracted, resulting in no injuries to the two occupants but causing substantial damage to the aircraft, including propeller deformation, damage to the flaps, engine cowling, and the engine mount.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the functionality of the aircraft's landing gear and its associated warning systems. Post-accident inspections confirmed that the landing gear mechanism was fully operational and that the visual and acoustic warning systems were functioning correctly. However, investigators noted a technical nuance regarding the electromagnetic audible alarm: if the battery voltage drops slightly below the nominal 12 volts (to approximately 10-11 volts), the alarm may fail to activate. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions and the cockpit environment during the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear and the omission of required pre-landing checklists.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's preoccupation with troubleshooting the landing gear warning lights and the silent audible alarm, which distracted from the necessary landing configuration checks.