What happened
On February 25, 2020, a privately operated Piper PA-24-250, registration N6419P, was conducting a flight from Punta Cana International Airport (MDPC) to Cibao International Airport (MDST) for the purpose of an annual inspection. The aircraft had been stationary at its previous location for an extended period.
During the approach to runway 11 at MDST, the pilot noted that the green landing gear indicator light failed to illuminate. To verify the gear position, the pilot requested a low-altitude flyover so that the control tower could visually confirm the gear status. While the tower personnel initially reported that the gear appeared to be down, the pilot subsequently heard a landing gear warning horn after reducing engine power. During the final approach, the aircraft's engine experienced a partial power loss.
The aircraft subsequently touched down on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The impact caused the aircraft to travel 106 meters along the surface, resulting in minor lacerations to the lower fuselage and bent propeller tips. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical systems, the pilot's actions, and the fuel quality. Investigators performed landing gear extension and retraction tests on jacks, which revealed that while the red "gear up" light functioned correctly, the green "gear down and locked" light failed to illuminate when the gear was fully extended.
Engine analysis and fuel sampling showed that the fuel contained minor sediment but was not contaminated enough to cause the reported engine power loss. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence of structural damage to the landing gear doors that would suggest a gear collapse during the impact.
Findings
- The landing gear was not deployed for the landing.
- The green landing gear indicator light failed to illuminate when the gear was in the down and locked position.
- The engine experienced a partial power loss during the final approach.
- The pilot failed to ensure the landing gear was properly extended prior to touchdown.