What happened
On November 27, 2001, a PIPER PA-23-250, registration EC-GLA, was conducting takeoff and landing training at the Casarrubios del Monte aerodrome in Toledo. The flight was a dual-instruction operation involving an instructor and a student pilot.
While performing a landing on runway 08, the crew was executing the "before landing" checklist. As they passed over the runway threshold, the crew selected 1/4 flaps and began extending the landing gear. During this maneuver, the crew observed an aircraft not part of the traffic pattern in close proximity to them. To avoid a collision, the instructor took control, turned toward the base leg, and selected full flaps. During the subsequent climb-out, an aircraft waiting at the departure point signaled to the crew that their landing gear was not extended.
In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot increased power and raised the nose. During this maneuver, a metallic noise was heard on the right side, indicating that the right propeller had struck the ground. The crew monitored engine parameters, found no abnormal vibrations, and subsequently declared an emergency. They performed a 180-degree turn and landed on runway 26 with the gear properly extended.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the contact between the propeller and the ground. The investigators examined the crew's actions during the avoidance maneuver and the status of the landing gear during the initial approach to runway 08.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was that the landing gear had not been extended during the initial landing attempt on runway 08.
- The crew's attention was diverted by the need to perform an immediate evasive maneuver to avoid nearby traffic.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propellers, flaps, and the right step.