What happened
On September 21, 2016, a Grumman GA-7 was conducting a flight competency check near the Marl-Loemühle airfield. The flight, which included a pilot candidate and a flight examiner, was intended to demonstrate various landing configurations. After an initial touch-and-go, the aircraft approached runway 07 with its landing gear retracted and flaps up.
During this second approach, the aircraft was traveling at approximately 85 knots. The aircraft's right step made contact with the runway, followed by the propeller blades striking the pavement. Although the aircraft briefly regained altitude, it subsequently entered a descent into a wooded area beyond the runway end. The impact with trees caused the aircraft to crash, resulting in two persons seriously injured and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the ground contact. The tower controller observed the aircraft at a height of approximately 5 meters and notified the crew that the landing gear was not extended. Analysis of GPS data confirmed the approach speed was approximately 85 knots, which was at the upper limit of the recommended speed for a flaps-up configuration.
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that while the main landing gear was extended and locked, the nose gear was broken and located under the right side of the fuselage. The landing gear selector lever was found in the down position, but it was not locked. The investigation also analyzed propeller strike marks on the runway to calculate the engine RPM at the time of impact, determining it was approximately 1,958 RPM.
Findings
- The aircraft approached the runway with the landing gear retracted.
- The aircraft's right step struck the runway first, creating an 18-meter drag mark, followed by propeller strikes.
- The landing gear selector lever was in the down position but was not secured by its lock.
- The aircraft's flight path ended in a controlled descent into a forest after the initial ground contact.