What happened
On November 16, 2019, a private pilot was conducting a local flight at Zaragoza Airport (LEZG) for the purpose of practicing takeoffs and landings. While performing the approach to runway 30R, the pilot began the approach checklist, which included the extension of the landing gear. However, the pilot made a conscious decision to delay the gear extension until the aircraft was closer to the runway. This decision was motivated by the desire to maintain engine temperature and prevent the engine from overcooling, as the pilot believed that extending the gear would require a reduction in approach speed that could negatively impact engine performance.
During the descent, the pilot maintained a speed of approximately 130 km//h, which was above the manufacturer's recommended approach speed. The pilot also decided not to deploy the air brakes, which meant the cockpit's acoustic warning system—which triggers when air brakes are extended while the gear is up—did not activate. The aircraft landed smoothly on the runway, but because the gear remained retracted, the nose of the aircraft eventually descended during the rollout. This caused the propeller tips to strike the runway surface, leading to damage to the propeller and the lower part of the fuselage.
The investigation
way The CIAIAC investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process, the aircraft's configuration, and the environmental conditions. The investigation reviewed the manufacturer's operating manuals for both the Valentín Taifun-17-E and the Limbach L-2000-EB1B engine. The investigators also analyzed the meteorological data, noting that the temperature was 11°C with a dew point of 2°C, creating a significant risk of carburetor icing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the landing of the aircraft with the landing gear retracted because the pilot failed to adhere to established procedures.
- A contributing factor was that the flight was initiated without a carburetor heat system in conditions highly conducive to carburetor icing.
- The pilot's decision to delay the gear extension to manage engine temperature left insufficient time to correctly configure the aircraft during the final approach.
- The pilot did not perform a final memory check of the aircraft configuration once established on final approach.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage, specifically to the propeller tips and the lower fuselage area, where the fiberglass and foam layers were eroded or damaged.