What happened
On August 12, 2012, an Embraer EMB-810C, registration PT-EIR, was performing a private flight from Eirunepé, Amazonas, to Coari, Amazonas. The flight, which included the pilot and three passengers, lasted approximately two hours. Upon arrival at Coari Aerodrome, the pilot performed a low pass over the runway to check for obstacles.
During the landing approach, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. As the aircraft reached the flare, the pilot realized the aircraft was sitting too low, indicating the gear was retracted. The aircraft's propellers struck the ground, and the lower fuselage dragged along the runway for approximately 400 meters before coming to a complete stop near the taxiway intersection. All four occupants of the aircraft were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propellers and the lower fuselage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical systems and the pilot's actions. Maintenance records showed the aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and up-to-date logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller. Following the accident, the aircraft was placed on jacks, and the landing gear was extended using the emergency system. This test confirmed that the hydraulic system was functioning normally, with no leaks or malfunctions found in the gear legs or the extension mechanism. The landing gear lever was found in the down position, and the pilot suggested he might have accidentally bumped the lever while exiting the cockpit after the landing.
Crucially, the investigation found that the pilot had previously deactivated the landing gear warning horn by pulling its circuit breaker. Furthermore, the propeller levers were not set to the maximum RPM position, indicating that the standard landing checklists were not properly executed.
Findings
- The pilot failed to perform the required landing checklist procedures.
- The pilot did not verify the landing gear position or the propeller lever settings during the final approach.
- The pilot's failure to follow checklists was compounded by the fact that the landing gear warning horn had been intentionally disabled by deactivating its circuit breaker, removing a critical safety barrier.
- The pilot's omission of the checklist led to the gear-up landing.