What happened
On July 1, 2023, at 15:30 UTC, a Beechcraft B-55 Baron, registration LV-IAP, was performing a general aviation ferry flight from Luján to San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Buenos Aires. After a 40-minute flight in visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft attempted to land on runway 36. However, the landing gear remained in the retracted position throughout the landing sequence.
The aircraft first struck the runway with the left propeller. Approximately 260 meters later, the right propeller made contact with the surface, followed by the right wingtip 380 meters from the initial impact. The force of the contact caused the engines to stop abruptly and forced the aircraft off the runway to the right. The accident resulted in significant damage to the propellers, the right wing, and the lower fuselage, though there were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's landing gear mechanism and the pilot's actions. The investigation revealed that the pilot had attempted to extend the gear five miles from the aerodrome but noticed the indicator lights were not behaving normally. The pilot reported seeing the nose gear extended via an engine console mirror and assumed the gear was locked. Additionally, while an audible warning horn activated during the final approach, the pilot did not identify it as a landing gear warning, as it coincided with the radio altimeter and stall alarms.
Technical inspections of the landing gear lever showed it was in a degraded state. The lever lacked the necessary resistance from its safety spring and was not properly secured to its stem, allowing for irregular movement. Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft's annual airworthiness certification and the engines' maintenance certificates had expired in March 2023. Regarding pilot requirements, the pilot had not undergone the mandatory flight instructor-led retraining required by Argentine regulations (RAAC) after a flight gap of more than 30 days.
Findings
- The approach was conducted with the landing gear in the retracted position.
- The pilot operated under the false assumption that the gear was fully extended.
- The landing gear control lever was in an unacceptable condition, lacking proper mechanical resistance and stability.
- The aircraft's annual airworthiness and engine maintenance certifications were expired.
- The pilot failed to complete the required flight proficiency training (readaptation) following a three-month period of inactivity.