What happened
On May 19, 2013, a Rutan Long-EZ, registration N-7 742TJ, was performing a ferry flight from Axarquía to Jerez Airport. The pilot was conducting flight tests on behalf of the aircraft's new owner to record performance parameters and prepare for future type ratings. During these tests, the aircraft's automatic nose gear extension system—which triggers when speeds drop below 90 knots—interfered with the pilot's maneuvers.
To prevent the nose gear from deploying automatically during stall testing, the pilot pulled the 10A circuit breaker that powers the nose gear system. During the approach to runway 20 at Jerez, which was subject to gusty winds between 13 and 26 knots, the pilot checked the gear position lights and observed a green light, leading them to believe the gear was down. However, as the aircraft slowed for touchdown, the nose gear remained retracted. The aircraft struck the runway with the nose section, causing superficial abrasions to the lower fuselage cowling. The pilot was able to manually extend the gear while on the runway, and the aircraft subsequently taxied to the parking area.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's landing gear design and the pilot's actions. The Rutan Long-EZ features a nose gear that extends via an electric motor under specific conditions. The investigation found that the pilot had intentionally disabled the system by pulling the 10A breaker to avoid unexpected deployment during flight tests. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the cockpit environment, noting that a green indicator light for a completely different system (a data logger) was located on the same pedestal as the landing gear controls, which could lead to visual confusion.
Findings
- The primary cause of the landing with the nose gear retracted was the pilot's failure to reset the 10A circuit breaker after disabling the gear system during flight tests.
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with the specific automated functions of the landing gear system contributed to the incident.
- The pilot did not adhere to standard operating procedures during the approach.
- The presence of a green LED for an unrelated system on the landing gear panel acted as a contributing factor by providing misleading visual confirmation to the pilot.