What happened
On the evening of December 16, 1999, a Beech 76 Duchess, registered F-GIRD, was conducting a night instructional flight at Beauvais aerodrome. During the intermediate approach for the ILS runway 31, the instructor simulated an engine failure on the right engine to train the student pilot. As part of this simulated emergency procedure, the instructor requested a reduction in the intensity of the airfield lighting. During the descent, the aircraft landed with its landing gear in the retracted position, causing damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the crew's actions and the aircraft's configuration during the approach. The student pilot stated that they had failed to extend the landing gear while passing through the glide slope. The instructor noted that their attention was heavily focused on monitoring the management of the simulated engine failure.
Investigators determined that neither the instructor nor the student pilot noticed the landing gear configuration change. Furthermore, the crew failed to notice the changes in aircraft performance—specifically the relationship between power settings, glide path, airspeed, and configuration—that typically occur when the gear is not extended. The investigation also found that the landing gear warning alarm was not heard by the crew. It is probable that the right engine power lever was positioned in a way that prevented the gear warning alarm from being triggered.
Findings
- Loss of situational awareness due to the instructor's focus on the simulated engine failure.
- Failure to execute checklists regarding the landing gear extension.
- The crew's attention was diverted by the simulated emergency and the request to adjust lighting intensity.
- The landing gear warning alarm was likely not activated because the right engine power lever was positioned beyond the alarm's trigger threshold.