CT156 Harvard II – Epilogue

The occurrence flight was part the NATO Flying Training in Canada Program for Phase II pilot training in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The crew, consisting of an Instructor Pilot and a Student Pilot, were conducting the first instrument flying lesson of the course syllabus.

After conducting basic instrument flight manoeuvres in the practice area, the aircraft returned to the airfield to conduct practice instrument approaches. While configuring the aircraft for landing on the first approach, the crew was unable to obtain landing gear down and locked indications.

The crew carried out the Landing Gear Malfunction Checklist but were unable to achieve a down and locked condition. In consultation with Maintenance and Operations personnel on the ground, the crew decided to achieve a safe gear up configuration and carry out a gear up landing. The aircraft touched down and remained on the runway as it slid to a stop after approximately 1,500 feet. The crew secured the aircraft and egressed normally.

The aircraft sustained D Category damage and there were no injuries.

The investigation determined the cause of the landing gear malfunction to be a faulty Landing Gear Down Valve. A magnified belief in the possibility of a landing gear jam within the CT-156 community, as well as the design of the Landing Gear Malfunction Checklist, contributed to the gear up landing. Recommendations include replacement of the solenoid valves, increased training, and improvements to checklist design.