What happened
On 18 December 2012, a Cessna R182 Skylane, registration G-WIFE, was conducting a private engineering test flight at Dundee Airport to verify fuel mixture and RPM settings. The weather conditions were favorable, with a 10-knot wind from 260 degrees and Runway 27 in use.
During the approach, the pilot activated the landing gear extension and observed the main gear lowering as expected. However, the green 'gear down' indicator light remained obscured. The pilot had to cup his hand around the indicator to confirm the light was visible. Shortly before touchdown, an 'unserviceable landing gear' warning horn sounded. The pilot, believing this to be the stall warning, did not react to the alert.
Upon landing, the aircraft's nose continued to pitch downward, causing the propeller to strike the runway surface. The aircraft slid along the hard runway to a stop without the pilot needing to utilize the wheel brakes. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the landing gear and the pilot's response to cockpit warnings. Physical evidence at the scene revealed that while the main gear had deployed, the nose landing gear remained in a retracted position with the gear doors closed. The investigation also noted that the engine had sustained shock-loading due to the propeller strike, and there was damage to the forward lower cowlings.
Findings
- The nose landing gear failed to extend during the landing sequence.
- The pilot misidentified the landing gear warning horn as a stall warning.
- The cause for the failure of the nose landing gear to lower had not been determined at the time of the report.