What happened
On 17 October 1999, a YAK-52, registration G-BWFP, was performing a private local flight at Liverpool Airport. While flying the downwind leg for Runway 09, the pilot lowered the landing gear and confirmed via the three green indicator lights that the gear was locked. During the circuit, Air Traffic Control instructed the pilot to orbit because another aircraft was ahead in the sequence. Unsure of how long the hold would last, the pilot elected to raise the landing gear.
Following one orbit, the pilot was cleared to land. As the aircraft approached the final stages of the landing, the pilot focused on monitoring the preceding aircraft's progress on the runway. The pilot subsequently touched down with the landing gear still in the retracted position. Although the protruding wheels provided some protection to the aircraft's underside, the propeller struck the runway surface. The impact resulted in a broken propeller, a shock-loaded engine, and damage to the trailing edge of a flap.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the impact and the cockpit environment. It was established that the pilot had retracted the gear during the holding pattern and failed to re-extend it before touchdown. The investigation also noted that the YAK-52 lacks any automated audio warning systems linked to airspeed or throttle position that would alert a pilot if the landing gear is not deployed.
Findings
- The pilot was distracted by monitoring the movement of preceding traffic on the runway.
- The pilot failed to complete the necessary cockpit checklists prior to landing.
- The aircraft's design provides no cockpit warning for an improper gear configuration based on flight parameters.