Sequence of Events
On 22 March 1998, a privately owned Piper PA-32R-300, registration HB-PBK, departed Nîmes under an IFR flight plan for Geneva-Cointrin Airport. The pilot was accompanied by three passengers. The flight was conducted entirely in visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
During the approach to Geneva, while established on the ILS, the pilot noticed the VHF 1 radio display illuminate orange and then extinguish. Shortly after, the VHF 2 radio and instrument lighting also failed. The pilot immediately set the transponder to code 7600 and cycled the battery and alternator switches several times without success.
The pilot then performed final checks and attempted to extend the landing gear using the emergency extension lever. The green gear-down indicator light did not illuminate. Believing the gear might not be down, the pilot decided to land on the grass runway to avoid blocking the main runway. After a gear-up landing on the grass, the pilot and passengers evacuated the aircraft uninjured. Fire services arrived several minutes later.
Established Facts
- The pilot held a valid professional pilot license and instrument rating.
- The aircraft was certified for day and night IFR operations.
- The entire flight was conducted in VMC.
- Technical investigation revealed a broken alternator excitation cable, causing electrical failure once the battery was depleted.
- After the accident, with the engine running, the alternator failure warning light was illuminated (battery charged).
- The emergency gear extension system functioned correctly when the lever was pushed, but the pilot mistakenly pulled it.
- The battery was found fully discharged after the accident.
- After the accident, when the aircraft was lifted by a crane, the landing gear extended without any lever operation.
- In his deposition the next day, the pilot stated he had pulled the emergency gear extension lever.
- On HB-PBK, the emergency gear extension lever must be pushed to operate.
- On another similar aircraft (HB-PEJ, a Piper PA-32R-301) that the pilot also flew, the emergency gear release was a pull handle.
- The grass runway at Geneva-Cointrin was not equipped with lighting.
- The landing occurred at night.
- The aircraft touched down 44 meters before the runway threshold and slid 225 meters on its belly.
Cause
The accident was caused by a total electrical failure on board and a false manipulation of the emergency landing gear extension by the pilot.