What happened
On October 21, 2001, a PA34-200 aircraft, registration ZS-ISD, was conducting a twin-engine rating training flight near Port Alfred. The flight involved an instructor and a student pilot performing maneuvers within the circuit. During the third circuit of the session, the student pilot successfully selected the landing gear in the down position and verified the presence of three green lights, a status which was also confirmed by air traffic control.
As the aircraft progressed on final approach, the instructor initiated a simulated engine failure to practice asymmetric flight procedures. During this maneuver, the student pilot struggled to maintain adequate directional control. In response to the difficulty in managing the aircraft's heading, the instructor decided to terminate the simulated failure and directed the student to proceed with a standard landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of cockpit actions during the transition from asymmetric flight simulation to a normal landing. It was established that while the instructor was preoccupied with assisting the student in regaining directional control and managing the simulated engine failure, a critical oversight occurred regarding the aircraft's configuration.
Findings
- The student pilot inadvertently retracted the undercarriage during the period of flight instability.
- The instructor's attention was diverted by the need to manage the student's lack of directional control during the simulated engine failure.
- The aircraft landed at Port Alfred Runway 10 with the landing gear retracted.