What happened
On April 21, 2016, a Hawker Beechcraft 400A, registration PR-AEX, departed from Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo for a private flight to Angra dos Reis. The aircraft was operated by Building Industrial de Conectores Ltda. and was carrying two pilots and one passenger.
During the approach to Angra dos Reis, the crew failed to extend the landing gear. As the aircraft reached the touchdown point, the belly of the fuselage made contact with the runway instead of the wheels. The crew immediately initiated a go-around, performed a new traffic pattern, and successfully extended the gear for a subsequent landing. The aircraft sustained light damage to the fuselage upper surface, flaps, and antennas, but all occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's systems and the crew's actions. Testing confirmed that the landing gear system was fully functional, with the gear capable of extending and locking properly. The investigation focused on the crew's cockpit procedures during the descent.
The pilot in command (PIC) reported that during the approach checklist, while setting the flaps to 10 degrees, the landing gear warning horn sounded due to the reduced power setting. The PIC then used a button on the control column to silence the alarm. The investigation found that the crew did not verify the landing gear position lights (three green lights for locked gear) and failed to perform the 'Before Landing' checklist, which would have required setting the flaps to 30 degrees and likely would have re-triggered the warning.
Findings
- Failure to follow procedures: The crew did not perform the 'Before Landing' checklist, which would have identified the gear configuration error.
- Improper use of warning silencer: The pilot continued the approach with the landing gear warning horn silenced, an action typically reserved for emergencies or training, thereby increasing operational risk.
- Memory and attention lapses: The crew failed to monitor the landing gear indicator lights and forgot to command the gear extension.
- Judgment errors: The decision to proceed with the approach while having silenced the primary warning system prevented the aircraft's automated systems from alerting the crew to the gear status.