Flight and Accident Sequence
On 1 April 2018, a Piper PA-28-200R aircraft, registration LV-LIF, departed from Comodoro D. R. Salomón Airport in Malargüe, Mendoza, for a local training flight of approximately 15 minutes. During the final landing, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted. The underside of the fuselage and the propeller blades scraped along the runway surface. The pilot exited the aircraft unaided and was not injured. The accident occurred during daytime with good visibility. The airport remained closed until the aircraft was removed from the runway.
Investigation Findings
The investigation ruled out technical malfunctions in the landing gear extension and retraction system. The landing gear warning horn, which sounds when the throttle is reduced with the gear still retracted, was found to be inoperative. The pilot reported that the warning horn had been non-functional for about a week before the accident, and its repair was scheduled for the upcoming 100-hour inspection. The pilot also stated that he did not use the pre-landing checklist during the approach and final landing phases.
Conclusions
The investigation identified the following factors related to the accident: omission of landing gear extension during the circuit and final approach; landing with the landing gear retracted; an inoperative landing gear warning horn; and failure to use the pre-landing checklist.