What happened
On 27 December 2010, a Miles M65 Gemini 1A, registration G-AKHP, was conducting a private local flight from its home airstrip. The flight, which lasted approximately thirty minutes, proceeded without incident until the return to North Coates Airfield in Lincolnshire. During the approach, the pilot failed to extend the retractable main landing gear. As the aircraft touched down on the grass runway, it settled directly onto its engine cowlings and underside. The aircraft slid a short distance across the grass before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propellers, flaps, and engine cowlings, and the engines suffered shock-loading.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft's main landing gear is retractable and requires roughly 20 seconds to deploy. The pilot typically lowers the gear during the approach to assist with deceleration. In this instance, the pilot did not perform the necessary checks to ensure the gear was locked, which would normally be confirmed by two position lights in the cockpit. The investigation looked into the pilot's cockpit procedures and the specific configuration of the aircraft's controls.
Findings
- The pilot did not utilize a written checklist for the approach, relying instead on familiarity with the aircraft and the airfield.
- The aircraft featured an unusual braking system and a lack of standard engine fuel mixture controls, making the pilot's habitual 'mixture, gear and brakes' check inappropriate for this specific type.
- The failure to select the landing gear down prior to touchdown was the primary cause of the accident, likely exacerbated by the pilot's reliance on memory rather than a formal checklist during a routine flight.