What happened
On April 1, 2018, a Piper PA-28-200R, registration LV-LIF, was conducting a local training flight at Malargüe Aerodrome in Mendoza, Argentina. The flight, operated by the Aeroclub Club Malargüe, was intended to last approximately 15 minutes. During the final circuit of the flight, the pilot executed a specialized landing maneuver involving a power-off approach. During the touchdown, the aircraft's landing gear remained in the retracted position, causing the belly of the fuselage and the propeller to strike the runway surface.
The pilot exited the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. The airfield was temporarily closed to all operations until the aircraft could be safely removed from the runway.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the JIAAC examined the aircraft's mechanical state and the pilot's operational procedures. Investigators ruled out any technical failures within the landing gear's extension and retraction system. However, the inspection revealed that the landing gear warning alarm, which alerts the pilot when the gear is retracted during low-power settings, was non-functional. The pilot confirmed that this alarm had been out of service for one week and was scheduled for repair during an upcoming 100-hour inspection.
Furthermore, the investigation established that the pilot did not utilize the standard operating procedure checklists during the approach and final landing phases of the flight.
Findings
- The pilot performed a power-off approach, which deviated from standard traffic pattern procedures by delaying the point at which the gear is extended.
- The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown.
- The landing gear warning alarm was inoperative at the time of the incident.
- The pilot did not use the required checklists during the approach and landing phases.