What happened
On September 30, 2015, an Embraer EMB-810D, registration PT-VAU, was performing a private passenger flight from Goiânia to Jataí, Brazil. During the approach, the pilot noticed that the indicator light for the right main landing gear had failed to illuminate. After two unsuccessful attempts to extend the gear using the normal system, the pilot attempted to deploy the gear via the emergency lever.
Despite the emergency deployment attempt, the landing gear indicator remained dark. The pilot proceeded to land on runway 13 with the right main landing gear unlocked. Approximately 50 meters before exiting the runway, the right main gear retracted. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically to the number two engine, the propeller assembly, the lower fuselage, the wing, and the right horizontal stabilizer. All three occupants—the pilot and two passengers—were uninjured.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation established that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all required certifications and maintenance logs were up to date. The investigation revealed that the pilot did not consult the aircraft's checklist when performing the emergency procedures, relying instead on memory.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot performed the emergency extension at approximately 95 knots, exceeding the maximum recommended speed of 85 knots specified in the checklist. It was also noted that the aircraft was moved from the runway to a hangar before the investigation team arrived, without the authorization of the Investigating Commander.