Distracted by a difficult circling approach; being hand flown in precipitation by the pilot on the opposite side of the cockpit from the airport; the flight crew of a B757-200 allowed the airspeed to slow 30 KTS below the bug speed while the aircraft was descending. Alerted by the landing gear warning horn they recovered and landed safely.
Synopsis
Distracted by a difficult circling approach; being hand flown in precipitation by the pilot on the opposite side of the cockpit from the airport; the flight crew of a B757-200 allowed the airspeed to slow 30 KTS below the bug speed while the aircraft was descending. Alerted by the landing gear warning horn they recovered and landed safely.
Narrative
Initially we were cleared for the VOR-DME Runway 26 approach to ZZZZ; the wind was reported 080 at 15 KTS. We could not land downwind because it was over our [tailwind] limit. Shortly after passing the IAF we saw the field; requested and received a clearance to fly a visual approach to Runway 08. There was a rain shower at the far end of the field. As we turned to [a left] downwind; it looked to us like we could not make a visual approach inside where the rain shower was going to reduce visibility at the approach end of the runway. We continued downwind at Flaps 20; 170 KTS gear up at 1;000 FT AFE (Above Field Elevation) thinking we would decide if we could see enough to continue. If yes; we finish configuring and land; if no; we turn back over the field; go around and continue to our alternate.My mistake was not wanting to take the First Officer's leg; so I was talking to him about where we were in relation to a visual final; while looking back and away from the aircraft. When I came back inside; I saw that the auto throttle was off; we were 30 KTS below selected speed; decelerating and starting to sink. Throttles advanced to full; but we sank to the point of getting the red CONFIG for no landing gear at 800 FT AFE warning before the power came back and we recovered to our altitude. Still; we were not in a position to decide if we could continue to land; so we continued forward to see how the visibility was and discovered it was good enough to see the runway through to landing. We finished configuring and landed. It had been 1999 since I had been here last and I had forgotten that I had decided it should be a left seat approach for Runway 08. I won't forget the next time.
Second reporter narrative
As I approached the end of the runway we still had good visibility. This is when the autothrottles did not hold selected speed. The Captain looked down and we were 30 KTS below selected speed. We both pushed the throttles up. I could feel the autothrottle clutches hold the throttles; and I was descending at this time also.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.