What happened
On March 10, 2013, an Embraer EMB-711C, registration PT-NHB, departed from Caruaru Aerodrome (SNRU) for a local flight with two occupants on board. After approximately 40 minutes of flight time, the aircraft returned to the airfield. During the landing sequence, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, resulting in a gear-up landing. The aircraft traveled approximately 380 meters along the runway before coming to a stop near the parking apron intersection. While the occupants escaped the incident uninjured, the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades and the lower fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot lacked significant experience with retractable landing gear, having only flown this specific model once, roughly thirty days prior to the accident. The pilot's previous flight experience was limited to aircraft equipped with fixed landing gear. Investigators determined that the failure to extend the gear was directly linked to the pilot's failure to utilize the aircraft's checklist. Furthermore, regulatory reviews of ANAC records revealed that the pilot was operating with both an expired Medical Certificate (CMA) and an expired Technical Proficiency Certificate (CHT). Additionally, the aircraft's logbook lacked updated flight hour records.
Findings
- The pilot failed to command the extension of the landing gear.
- The pilot did not utilize the aircraft checklist during the flight phases.
- The pilot had only two hours of flight time in the Embraer EMB-711C.
- The pilot's previous experience was limited to fixed-gear aircraft.
- The pilot was operating with an expired Medical Certificate and an expired Technical Proficiency Certificate.
- The aircraft's weight and balance were within limits, and the Certificate of Airworthiness was valid.