What happened
On November 5, 2010, a Fairchild SA 227-AC, registration N115GS, operated by LC BUSRE S.A.C., was performing a scheduled flight from Lima to Huánuco, Peru. During the approach to runway 07 at Alféres FAP David Figueroa Fernandini Airport, the crew encountered a headwind of 23 knots.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) triggered multiple alerts, including "50 and 500 feet" and "sink rate" warnings. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced three times. During this sequence, the co-pilot retracted the landing gear lever. The aircraft made its final contact with the runway 1,200 meters into the landing roll, but because the engines had not been idled, the propellers struck the pavement. The aircraft slid 600 meters further, coming to a stop 1,800 meters from the start of the runway. There were no injuries among the nine occupants.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the flight sequence, the crew's performance, and the aircraft's technical state. The investigation found that the aircraft's landing gear collapsed due to the erroneous retraction by the crew. The investigation also reviewed the company's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the crew's training records, noting that the pilot's recent simulator training had been conducted at sea level (Memphis, USA) rather than at high-altitude environments similar to Huánuco.
Findings
- The erroneous retraction of the landing gear by the crew following multiple bounces was the primary cause.
- The approach was unstable, characterized by excessive speed and a failure to reduce engine power to idle upon touchdown.
- Deficiencies in Crew Resource Management (CRM) and the use of non-standardized callouts contributed to the unstable approach.
- The crew failed to recognize or correct the unstable approach parameters.
- The aircraft sustained significant structural damage, including punctures to the fuselage from propeller impacts, damaged landing gear doors, and engine damage due to the sudden stoppage of the propellers.