What happened
On May 30, 2004, a private Piper PA-24-250, registration HB-OVR, arrived at Corfu State Airport in the Hellenic Republic for refueling. The flight originated from Switzerland, with a stop in Corsica, France. During the approach to runway 35, the pilot attempted to use the landing gear to reduce excessive airspeed during descent. However, the aircraft impacted the runway with its landing gear in the retracted position. The aircraft slid approximately 260 meters along the asphalt before coming to a halt. There were no injuries to the three occupants, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades, engine cowling, and the lower fuselage skin.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's landing gear mechanism to determine if a mechanical failure prevented extension. Testing revealed that the gear could extend and retract normally when the aircraft was on jacks. An initial electrical malfunction, where a fuse would blow during retraction, was traced back to physical stresses on the mechanism caused by the impact of the belly landing. Once the access door causing the stress was removed, the system functioned correctly. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's statements regarding the cockpit warning horn and the visibility of the landing gear indicator lights. While the pilot claimed he had lowered the gear, investigators found no evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have prevented the gear from locking down.
Findings
- The landing gear was in the up and locked position during the approach.
- The cockpit warning horn activated during the flight because the gear had not been extended.
- The pilot performed approach and landing checks from memory rather than using a physical checklist.
- The omission to extend the landing gear and verify it was down and locked was the primary cause of the accident.
Safety action
- Mandatory flight phase checks must be performed using checklists rather than relying on memory.