What happened
On July 31, 2012, a Tecnam P2006T, registration I-TELT, was performing a series of touch-and-go landings as part of a multi-engine piston (MEP) training program at Catania Fontanarossa Airport. The flight was operated by a local flight training organization, with an instructor and a student pilot on board.
During the approach for the fourth mission of the program, air traffic control instructed the crew to back-track via taxiway B after landing due to incoming traffic. As the aircraft touched down on runway 08, the fuselage made contact with the runway surface. The aircraft slid approximately 250 meters before coming to a stop. The crew reported that the landing gear had failed to extend, preventing them from vacating the runway via the taxiway as instructed.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the configuration of the aircraft upon impact and the functionality of the landing gear systems. Physical examination of the Tecnam P2006T revealed that while the landing gear lever was in the down position, the main gear wheels had not fully deployed. The main gear doors were only partially open, and the nose gear was also partially extended.
Investigators found abrasions and scratches on the lower fuselage, as well as on the inner circumference of the main gear wheel covers. The condition of the gear doors—specifically a slight inward bend on the left door—suggested that the gear was in the process of extending when it struck the runway surface. Furthermore, testing confirmed that the landing gear mechanism was fully functional, with no hydraulic leaks or mechanical obstructions found. The investigation also noted that the cockpit's audible gear warning was significantly muffled when the pilots were wearing flight headsets.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was human error, specifically the failure to properly extend the landing gear during the landing phase.
- The crew failed to execute the required "Before Landing" checklists as outlined in the Aircraft Flight Manual.
- The repetitive nature of the training maneuvers (touch-and-go landings) likely created a false sense of security, leading the crew to believe all necessary checks had been completed.
- The use of flight headsets attenuated the audible gear warning signal, making it harder for the crew to perceive the alert.