What happened
On July 14, 2009, an EMB-711C aircraft, registration PT-NKH, was conducting a flight for the purpose of renewing a single-engine land rating. The flight originated from Campo de Marte (SBMT) and was destined for Atibaia (SDTB). The crew, consisting of a pilot and an inspector, intended to perform three simulated engine failure touch-and-go maneuvers.
While the first two maneuvers were completed without incident, the third approach was interrupted by the sighting of another aircraft on the long final. The inspector focused on attempting to establish radio contact and maintain separation from the other aircraft, while the pilot continued the traffic pattern. During the final stages of the approach, the crew failed to extend the landing gear. The aircraft touched the ground with the gear retracted, causing the fuselage to scrape the runway and the propeller to strike the ground. The two crew members were uninjured, but the aircraft sustained severe damage to the engine and propeller blades, along with minor damage to the flaps.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the crew did not utilize the aircraft's checklist during the landing procedure. The investigation also noted that the inspector's position in the right seat may have obscured the landing gear position lights due to the throttle console. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the cockpit environment, noting that the presence of another aircraft created a high-workload situation that diverted the crew's attention. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was dismantled and moved from the runway for transport before the investigation commission was notified.
Findings
- Lack of checklist usage: The pilot did not perform the landing checklist, which would have included the gear extension.
- Loss of situational awareness: The presence of another aircraft on final approach created tension and diverted the crew's attention from critical flight tasks.
- Poor cockpit coordination: The division of tasks between the pilot and the inspector was ineffective, as the inspector's focus on traffic separation contributed to the oversight.
- Potential lack of oversight: The close professional relationship between the pilot and the inspector may have led to a relaxed atmosphere where standard operating procedures were not strictly enforced.