What happened
On 20 October 2015, a Tecnam P2006T, registration PK-LTK, was conducting an unscheduled solo training flight for a newly recruited pilot. The flight originated from Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, destined for Nusawiru Airport in Pangandaran, West Java.
During the approach to runway 07, the pilot configured the aircraft for landing and performed the necessary checklists. However, upon touchdown, the pilot realized the landing gear had not been extended. The aircraft slid approximately 400 meters along the runway, resulting in damage to the lower fuselage skin and the VOR/DME antenna. There were no injuries to the single occupant.
The investigation
The KNKT investigation focused on why the pilot was unaware of the gear configuration and why no cockpit warning sounded. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting it had been reassembled by a third-party provider, PT. Mulya Sejahtera Technology (MS Tech), without direct supervision from the manufacturer.
Post-incident testing revealed that while the landing gear system functioned normally when manually operated, the landing gear warning system failed to trigger when the flaps were in the full down position while the gear remained up. This specific failure mode prevented the pilot from receiving the necessary auditory alert during the final approach.
Findings
- The primary cause was a malfunctioning landing gear warning system that failed to activate when the flaps were set to full down with the gear in the up position.
- The pilot's performance may have been compromised by fatigue, as he had slept less than six hours prior to the flight.
- Inappropriate checklist execution contributed to the gear remaining retracted.
- There were deficiencies in the quality control oversight of the maintenance provider, as the error in the warning system went undetected during the aircraft's reassembly.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator, PT. Asian One Air, implemented new procedures prohibiting the use of memory-based systems instead of written checklists. The maintenance provider, MS Tech, initiated supervisory and inspector training for its personnel to improve quality standards.