Pilots of a Transair Shorts 360 became distracted and did not lower the undercarriage before the aircraft landed gear-up at Honolulu earlier this year.
The aircraft – operated by Trans Executive Airlines – had been conducting an approach to runway 4R on 11 June following a repositioning flight from Kona.
Its first officer, who was flying and sitting in the left seat for familiarisation, testified that he called for extension of flaps and the landing-gear.
But the pilots “became distracted” by a simultaneous request from the tower to decelerate to the slowest practical speed, says the US National Transportation Safety Board.
While concentrating on the airspeed reduction, it states, the pilots “forgot to monitor” the landing-gear status.
“The pilots reported hearing the gear-warning horn during the flare, at which time they glanced in and confirmed that the landing gear was retracted,” it adds.
As a result, the 360 touched down on its fuselage underside before coming to rest. None of the five occupants was injured, but the aircraft (N221LM) was substantially damaged.
No technical issues were identified during the inquiry, which concludes that the crew did not complete the ‘before landing’ checklist and failed to extend the landing-gear.
Trans Executive Airlines is one of the operators conducting services for Transair alongside Rhoades Aviation.
Rhoades has battled against suspension following a Boeing 737-200 ditching accident off Honolulu in 2021 and, having successfully appealed, newly applied in July this year for authorisation to resume operations.
