Event Description
On August 24, 2023, at 21:00 UTC, a Piper PA28R-200, registration YV2386, departed from La Paragua Aerodrome (SVGA) for Uruyen Airport (SVUY), with a single pilot aboard. During the flight, the pilot observed that the green landing gear down-and-locked indicator lights were not illuminated, indicating a landing gear extension problem. The pilot decided to divert to Canaima Airport (SVCN) and requested permission to land on a gravel area, which was granted. The aircraft touched down at 21:28 UTC with the landing gear not deployed, resulting in damage to the aircraft; the pilot was uninjured.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Junta Investigadora de Accidentes (JIA). The aircraft, a Piper PA28R-200, was found to be airworthy with valid maintenance records. The pilot held a valid license and medical certificate. Weather conditions were calm with 0 KT wind, unlimited visibility, and generally good weather.
Maintenance technicians inspected the landing gear and retraction system. They found that the micro switch on the main landing gear had lost its securing clip. The investigation determined that a hard landing earlier that day at Camp Kavak caused the securing clip to become dislodged. The pilot did not have sufficient accessibility to perform a visual pre-flight check on the landing gear, so the loss of the securing clip went unnoticed until the next flight.
Probable Cause
The micro switch of the main landing gear lost its securing clip due to a hard landing at Camp Kavak earlier the same day, and the pilot did not have sufficient accessibility to perform a visual pre-flight check, so did not notice the loss.