What happened
On February 19, 2012, a Beechcraft BE-58, registration PR-LLA, was performing a private flight from Salvador, BA, to the Praia do Saco aerodrome in Estância, SE. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and three passengers. Upon approaching runway 11 at the destination, the pilot performed a landing with the landing gear retracted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's engines and propellers. Despite the severity of the impact, all four occupants escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the gear-up landing and the cockpit ergonomics of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified and experienced, and that the aircraft's airworthiness certificates and maintenance logs were up to date. The aircraft was also within its proper weight and balance limits.
Investigators examined the cockpit configuration, noting that the aircraft featured a horizontal bar connecting the two control columns. This bar obstructed the pilot's line of sight to the landing gear lever and the gear position indicator lights. The landing gear control is located on the lower part of the center panel, to the right of the throttle pedestal and forward of the co-pilot's seat. This configuration makes the controls particularly difficult to monitor when the aircraft is operated by a single pilot in the left seat. Additionally, a functional test of the landing gear warning horn confirmed it was operating correctly according to the maintenance manual, activating when manifold pressure reached the specified range.
Findings
- The pilot forgot to extend the landing gear during the approach.
- The pilot failed to utilize the checklist during the landing phase of the flight.
- The cockpit design, specifically the horizontal bar between the control columns, created visual interference that hindered the pilot's ability to monitor the landing gear controls and indicators.