What happened
On June 15, 2010, a Beechcraft 58, registration PR-GOS, was performing a cargo flight transporting bank bags from Canarana to Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). During the approach to runway 21 at the Nova Xavantina Aerodrome, the crew performed a left turn to establish a long final approach.
During the descent, the pilot in command called for specific flap settings and a pre-landing checklist. However, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear in the retracted position. The lower fuselage made contact with the runway, and the aircraft slid approximately 15 and 0 meters before coming to a complete stop. Both crew members were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained light damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the flight procedures and the crew's execution of the pre-landing checklist. The investigation confirmed that both pilots held valid commercial licenses and multi-engine ratings, and the aircraft's maintenance, weight, and balance were all within regulatory limits.
The investigation focused on the sequence of the checklist execution. The pilot in command requested the flaps be set to the 15-degree approach position but skipped the subsequent instruction to extend the landing gear before moving to the full flaps setting. Although the co-pilot read all items of the "Before Landing" checklist, the crew failed to notice that the landing gear had not been lowered.
While the crew suggested that a higher-than-usual power setting during the final approach might have prevented the landing gear warning horn from alerting them, the aircraft manual specifies that the alarm should sound whenever the flaps are in the full down position and the gear is not down and locked, regardless of airspeed or throttle position. Therefore, the investigation determined that the crew's failure to notice the gear status was a primary factor.
Findings
- Incomplete checklist execution: The pilot in command bypassed the landing gear extension step during the approach.
- Crew coordination and attention: A lack of effective monitoring and coordination during the checklist process allowed the omission to go unnoticed.
- Pilot judgment and memory: Factors related to memory and flight judgment contributed to the failure to verify the gear status.
- Operational factors: The crew's attitude and attention levels during the approach were identified as contributing factors to the incident.