What happened
On November 1, 2015, a Piper PA-32RT-300T (registration N3024N) was performing a ferry flight from Montevideo (SUAA) to Salto International Airport (SUSO) in Uruguay. The flight was operated by a pilot and four passengers.
During the landing sequence on runway 23, the aircraft touched the runway surface with its landing gear still in the retracted position. The aircraft traveled approximately 30 meters with the fuselage and propeller contacting the pavement, leaving several distinct marks on the runway. As the aircraft began to lift off again, the landing gear was in the process of extending. However, the aircraft drifted to the right, causing the left wing to strike an airport visual aid sign. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in the runway safety area. All five occupants evacuated the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The CIAIA investigation focused on the sequence of the landing gear extension and the pilot's adherence to operational procedures. Investigators examined the aircraft's hydraulic system, noting that the tricycle gear is actuated by an electric pump and follows a specific sequence: nose gear, then left main gear, and finally the right main gear. Post-accident testing on jacks showed that while most systems functioned according to the manufacturer's specifications, the right main gear could not be retracted independently during testing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to use the manufacturer's checklists during the approach and landing phases.
- The pilot relied on memory rather than following the established operating procedures, which led to the landing gear remaining retracted.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including propeller blade deformation, damage to the left wing leading edge from the impact with the sign, and damage to the flaps.
- The pilot's Uruguayan medical certificate had expired.
- Meteorological conditions were calm and were not a contributing factor.