Overview
On March 23, 2018, at 17:15 local time, a Beechcraft B36TC single-engine aircraft, registration CP-2591, sustained damage during a landing with the landing gear retracted at El Trompillo Airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The aircraft was operated by an air taxi company on a non-regular commercial flight returning from San Matías. The only person on board was the pilot.
Flight History
The flight departed from San Matías Airport under flight plan number 29534, with an estimated flight time of two hours and four hours of fuel endurance. The alternate airport was Viru Viru. Weather conditions at the time were described as clear with optimal visibility and strong northerly winds.
After crossing south of Viru Viru, the pilot contacted El Trompillo Tower for landing instructions. The controller cleared the aircraft for runway 33 and requested the pilot to report base leg. The pilot began configuring the aircraft for a normal landing. Upon hearing other aircraft in the approach, the pilot hurried to avoid delaying traffic, lowered flaps, and increased power for a long landing.
Accident Sequence
During the landing flare, the pilot realized that the landing gear had not been extended. Believing the aircraft was too low to extend the gear, the pilot shut down the engine to minimize further damage. The aircraft touched down on its belly on the asphalt runway, skidding about 100 meters from south to north with a slight right drift. The aircraft did not depart the runway.
Emergency personnel from the airport's rescue and firefighting service, the Civil Aviation Authority, and company staff arrived promptly. The pilot evacuated the aircraft unaided and was not injured.
Aircraft and Engine Damage
The aircraft sustained superficial damage to the lower fuselage, landing gear doors, and the entry step was fractured. The exhaust pipe was bent. The Continental TSIO-520-UB engine (serial number 1031963) was to be inspected for internal damage due to propeller blade contact with the runway. The Hartzell propeller assembly sustained considerable damage and was to be evaluated by an approved maintenance organization.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 47-year-old Bolivian male, held a Commercial Pilot license with single-engine land rating up to 5,700 kg maximum takeoff weight. His medical certificate was valid. Total flight time was 5,341.15 hours, with 11:26 hours on the accident aircraft type.
Aircraft Information
The Beechcraft B36TC (serial number EA-301) was manufactured in 1982. It was a single-engine, low-wing, retractable tricycle gear aircraft powered by a Continental engine and equipped with a Hartzell three-blade propeller. The airframe had accumulated 5,651.71 hours total time. The aircraft held a valid Standard Airworthiness Certificate in the Utility category, issued June 20, 2017, and valid through June 20, 2019. The last maintenance inspection, performed on March 19, 2018, certified the aircraft as airworthy.
The landing gear system was hydraulically actuated with electric control, featuring normal and emergency extension modes, position lights, and an audible warning horn. The horn warning system was linked to engine power demand.
Conclusion
The accident occurred when the pilot omitted the landing gear extension during the landing sequence, resulting in a wheels-up landing. The aircraft was substantially damaged; the pilot was not injured.