AAIB investigation to Beechcraft Super King Air 200, G-FLYW
Approach with landing gear retracted, Exeter Airport, 20 March 2020.
Summary:
The accident flight was recurrent training for a pilot who had recently re-joined the aircraft operator’s company. G-FLYW took off from Bristol Airport and the pilots conducted general handling training before positioning for two GNSS approaches at Exeter Airport. The trainee occupied the left seat and was handling pilot for the flight.
The second GNSS approach at Exeter was made in a simulated single-engine configuration and was terminated by an asymmetric go-around to join the visual circuit. The intention was to complete a single-engine landing before returning to Bristol. Due to landing traffic ahead, the handling pilot elected to extend the downwind leg and the landing gear was selected down when the aircraft was on left base. All appeared normal and the pilots remembered seeing three green lights indicating that the landing gear was locked down. No undercarriage position warnings were evident. When the aircraft was being flared for touchdown both pilots heard a loud metallic noise and a go-around was initiated. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft touch down with the landing gear retracted and its propellers striking the runway.
During the go-around, and before the landing gear was selected up, the pilots noted that the green undercarriage indicator lights were extinguished. After the go-around, the pilots attempted to recycle the landing gear using the normal system, but it remained retracted. Lowering the landing gear using the emergency mechanism was successful and the aircraft landed at Exeter Airport without further incident.
It was not possible to positively determine how the aircraft had come to touch down with its landing gear retracted.
Following this accident, the CAA undertook to review whether its process for one-off flight approvals should include a wider set of criteria.
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