Cubana E110 at Havana on Nov 28th 2020, gear up landing

Last Update: September 22, 2021 / 16:59:06 GMT/Zulu time

Bookmark this article
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 28, 2020

Classification
Accident

Airline
Cubana

Flight number
CU-801

Destination
Havana, Cuba

Aircraft Registration
CU-T1541

Aircraft Type
Embraer EMB-110

ICAO Type Designator
E110

Airport ICAO Code
MUHA

A Cubana de Aviacion Embraer EMB-110, registration CU-T1541 performing flight CU-801 from Nueva Gerona to Havana (Cuba) with 15 passengers and 4 crew, landed on Havana's runway 06 at 08:33L (13:33Z) but suffered a belly landing, skidded along the runway and came to a stop without any gear. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

Cuba's Civil Aviation Authority reported: "At 08:33L a Cubana de Aviacion Embraer 110, covering the route Geron-Havana, with 15 passengers and 4 crew on board, had a failure in the landing gears causing the the breakdown of the aircraft while landing at Havana Airport. There were no injuries. An investigation has been opened."

Ground observers reported the aircraft landed without gear being down.

On Sep 22nd 2021 Cuba's IACC released their final report in Spanish only (Original in compressed form directly off their website) (Editorial note: to serve the purpose of global prevention of the repeat of causes leading to an occurrence an additional timely release of all occurrence reports in the only world spanning aviation language English would be necessary, a Spanish only release does not achieve this purpose as set by ICAO annex 13 and just forces many aviators to waste much more time and effort each in trying to understand the circumstances leading to the occurrence. Aviators operating internationally are required to read/speak English besides their local language, investigators need to be able to read/write/speak English to communicate with their counterparts all around the globe).

The report concludes the most probable causes of the accident were:

the failure of the landing gear to extend to the down and locked position due to the failure of the flight crew to comply with operational standards set by the operator.

Contributing factors were:

- the lack of a warning for flap extension to 38 degrees (+/- 2 degrees) with a least one of the gear struts not in the locked position

- insufficient analysis of flights, using voice recorders, in a pro-active matter as established by the operator

The captain (ATPL, 17,877 hours total) was pilot flying, a first officer (ATPL, 1,480 hours total) was pilot monitoring.

The IACC reported the flight initially developed normally in compliance with standard operating procedures. Once in cruise the crew began communication outside the operation of the aircraft, which continued into the critical stages of the landing. The captain did not issue a "Gear Down" instruction nor was ever stated "Gear Down" or "Three Greens".

Examination of the landing gear post flight did not find any anomaly. However, a faulty connector was found which prevented the alarm to sound when the flaps were moved into landing position without all gear in position and locked.

The IACC analysed the crew was properly qualified and well rested, there were no influences that could have incapacitated the crew or impaired their performance. Weather, ATC, radio communication, aircraft as well as mass and balance were not factors. The landing gear worked as designed both in normal and emergency (alternate) mode. The gear indications worked as designed. The gear alarm worked as designed. However, no alarm occurred when the flaps were moved into landing position without the gear fully in its down and locked position due to the failure of a micro connector. The captain never commanded gear down nor was the gear status ever queried or stated. These omissions were caused by conversations in the cockpit that went beyond the operation of the aircraft even in the critical phases of approach and landing.

Related NOTAMs:
A4705/20 NOTAMN
Q) MUFH/QFALC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/2259N08225W003
A) MUHA B) 2011281405 C) 2011281800
E) AD CLSD

A4710/20 NOTAMN
Q) MUFH/QLAXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/2259N08225W003
A) MUHA B) 2011281523 C) 2011281800
E) RWY 24 SALS NOT AVBL DUE DTHR

A4708/20 NOTAMN
Q) MUFH/QLPXX/IV/BO/A/000/999/2259N08225W003
A) MUHA B) 2011281501 C) 2011281800
E) RWY 24 PAPI NOT AVBL DUE DTHR

A4707/20 NOTAMN
Q) MUFH/QMTCM/IV/NBO/A/000/999/2259N08225W003
A) MUHA B) 2011281448 C) 2011281800
E) RWY 24 THR DISPLACED 1250M DUE WIP. MEN AND EQPT WORKING
DECLARED DIST:
RWY TORA TODA ASDA LDA
06 2750 2750 2750 2750
24 2750 2850 2810 2750

Metars:
MUHA 281455Z 11004KT 080V140 9000 FEW030 26/18 Q1018=
MUHA 281355Z 00000KT 9000 FEW025 22/22 Q1018=
MUHA 281255Z 00000KT 8000 FEW025 18/18 Q1017=
MUHA 281155Z VRB01KT 8000 FEW040 16/16 Q1017=
MUHA 281055Z 01003KT 7000 FEW030 17/17 Q1016=
MUHA 281039Z 00000KT 7000 FEW033 16/16 Q1016=
MUHA 281013Z 24003KT 9000 0700SW R06/0600V0800D R24/P2000N PRFG FEW030 16/16 Q1016=
MUHA 280955Z VRB02KT 9000 1000SW R06/1100VP2000D R24/P2000N PRFG FEW030 16/16 Q1016=
COR MUHA 280940Z 03002KT 9000 4400SW PRFG FEW030 17/17 Q1016=
MUHA 280909Z 03002KT 9000 4400SW PRFG FEW030 17/17 Q1016=
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 28, 2020

Classification
Accident

Airline
Cubana

Flight number
CU-801

Destination
Havana, Cuba

Aircraft Registration
CU-T1541

Aircraft Type
Embraer EMB-110

ICAO Type Designator
E110

Airport ICAO Code
MUHA

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source

You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.

Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!

Are you a subscriber? Login
Subscribe

Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.

Send tip

Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.

Related articles

Newest articles

Subscribe today

Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.

Pick your plan and subscribe

Partner

Blockaviation logo

A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.

ELITE Logo

ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.

SafetyScan Pro

SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today

AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American Airlines
United
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways