Understanding Aircraft Belly Landing

Imagine this scenario: You are a pilot on your final approach and suddenly realize that your landing gear is not working. What do you do in such a situation? While the chances of this happening are rare, you will opt for a belly landing if it does happen. In this blog, we will dive into this topic.

But what is a belly landing? A belly landing is an emergency landing without landing gear; or in other words, a plane landing without landing gear is known as a belly landing. It usually occurs with aircraft that have retractable landing gear. When the landing gear fails to extend, a pilot must land the plane on its underside.

Is belly landing safe? Belly landing is the last resort for pilots. It is only used when it is not possible to deploy the landing gear due to technical or mechanical reasons. While pilots are familiar with the belly landing procedure, it carries significant risks if executed with errors.

Causes of Belly Landings

We discovered what is belly landing. Let's examine the causes that can lead a pilot to belly-land an aircraft. A belly landing aircraft requires a thorough inspection before it can be deemed airworthy again. However, first let's examine the causes of belly landings.

1. Mechanical Failure

One of the most common causes for an emergency landing without landing gear is mechanical failure of the landing gear system. This can occur for various reasons, such as a jammed gear mechanism, hydraulic system failure, or a broken actuator that prevents the landing gear from lowering. In most cases, a plane landing without landing gear is the result of mechanical failure or pilot error.

Hydraulic systems are essential functions in retractable gear aircraft, and even a minor leak can cause the gear to fail to deploy. The same happened in 2011, when LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16, a Boeing 767, experienced hydraulic failure. This prevented the aircraft's landing gear from extending, forcing pilots to deploy the belly landing procedure in Warsaw.

2. Pilot Error

To err is human. A belly landing can happen due to a pilot error, although this is less common thanks to rigorous training and cockpit procedures. In some instances, pilots may be distracted or might misinterpret instrument readings. This can lead them to forget to extend the landing gear before landing. While such incidents are rare, oversights can be catastrophic if not caught in time. Standard operating procedures and gear warning systems are in place to minimize this risk.

3. Electrical Malfunctions

Pilots can also implement gear-up landings in cases of electrical malfunctions. Aircraft rely heavily on electrical systems to operate. A minor failure in any system, such as malfunctioning indicator lights, can lead to confusion about whether the gear is fully deployed. In some cases, pilots may assume that the landing gear is down when it is not, resulting in a gear-up landing.

4. Structural Damage

Gear-up landing can also occur if the flight has sustained damage, such as from bird strikes or mid-air collisions with foreign objects. All of these damages can prevent the landing gear from being deployed. In military and cargo aircraft, landing gear components may become physically obstructed or disabled, making deployment impossible. Pilots must undertake a belly landing in all these cases to land the plane safely.

Risks Associated with Belly Landings

Is belly landing safe? Belly landing aircraft incidents are rare but can happen due to gear failure or hydraulic issues, as mentioned before. Even when pilots are trained to undertake a gear-up landing, it is not without significant risks.

1. Aircraft Damage

When a pilot undertakes a belly landing procedure, the fuelage, wings, and propellers are at risk of damage. The integrity of your entire aircraft is at risk as it scrapes along the rough runway surface. And that is if you do land on a runway. Instead, you might have to land on a bumpy, unimproved grass strip. This will almost certainly cause more damage than a runway surface. Fixing these damages becomes expensive, with your aircraft being permanently shut down in extreme scenarios.

2. Fire Hazards

A belly landing on the runway is an ideal scenario, but a significant ignition risk can prove fatal for everyone aboard. How does this happen? The aircraft's metal scraping against the rough runway terrain can create sparks. Friction can also generate enough heat to turn into fire. Add potential fuel leaks to the picture, and you have the perfect fire formula.

3. Loss of Avionics and Systems

Most of your aircraft's antennas and sensors are located on the underside of the fuselage. These systems are vital, especially when you are landing. In a belly landing procedure, these components are the first to be crushed. With their loss, you now have another problem on your hands: a loss of communications and navigation aids.

Without these aids, maintaining a direct line of communication with air traffic control would be impossible. This issue can prevent a successful belly landing.

4. Evacuation Risks

A belly landing can make evacuation difficult. This is because the aircraft doors also get damaged along with other components. Instead of being your exit, they might become a barrier to your way out. Additionally, your plane might halt at an irregular orientation, leading to the cabin exit height becoming higher than usual. A fire could also break out along the exit path, causing severe burns.

5. Operational Disruptions

A belly landing is not just a traumatic and chaotic incident for the inhabitants of the aircraft. An event like this causes a ripple effect in its surroundings. After a belly landing procedure, aircraft operations will be severely disrupted. Airports might close their runways to inspect the area for debris and other objects. This means the flight is being diverted to a different airport or is experiencing a delay. Another concern is the potential spillage of aircraft fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid that could result from a belly landing. These must be contained and cleaned up immediately to prevent contaminating the soil and any nearby bodies of water.

How Pilots Can Avoid Belly Landings

Pilots should prioritize avoiding a belly landing. While modern aircraft are equipped with sufficient safety systems, pilots can take steps to prevent a gear-up landing. Everything starts with proper training and awareness to ensure a successful belly landing.

1. Follow the Checklist

How do you ensure a belly landing success rate? Before the start of any flights, pilots follow a series of standard operating procedures (SOPs), which are especially handy during approach and landing. A crucial item on these checklists is to confirm that the landing gear is fully functional and locked in place. Pilots must carefully complete these checks without skipping or rushing through the steps, as this can reduce the likelihood of forgetting to deploy the gear.

2. Situational Awareness

In a multi-crew environment, pilots usually cross-check each other's actions, including gear deployment. If one pilot has missed a step, the other can quickly catch up. This involves maintaining situational awareness, which is critical, along with a clear line of communication. It can prevent lapses in judgment that could lead to gear-up landings. This is a smart way of avoiding a belly landing. These steps can ensure a belly landing success rate.

3. Responding to Warnings and Alerts

Modern aircraft have highly sophisticated alert systems. If the helicopter detects that it is descending without the gear being deployed, it will issue both an audible and visual warning. As pilots, you will be trained to respond immediately to these alerts. In such a situation, re-check gear status and correct the issue. If not, it is time to prepare for a belly landing procedure.

4. Regular Training and Simulations

Pilots never stop training. Pilots must undergo recurrent simulator training to stay current. This includes emergency scenarios such as gear deployment failure. Training modules reinforce proper procedures, improve response times, and ensure familiarity with alternative landing techniques, such as belly landings.

5. Pre-flight and In-Flight Inspections

A thorough check of all systems before the start of a flight can reveal potential issues. Pilots must monitor hydraulic and electrical systems during the flight to assess any anomalies early on. If they find a problem, they can coordinate with the air traffic control for additional time or diversion.

How to Perform a Safe Belly Landing

We have all seen videos of a plane landing without landing gear. But such videos also highlight the skill and training of the flight crew. Belly landing aircraft incidents are rare but can happen. And now it is happening to you. You have to undertake a belly landing procedure. You are mentally prepared, and you have a plan. But while a rough touchdown feels inescapable, remember that you have every power to land your aircraft safely.

Secure and brief: Secure your cabin. Stow away any loose items. Then, calmly brief your passengers. Walk them through the brace position.
Configure the aircraft: Set up your plane according to the Pilot Operating Handbook. Shut down non-essential systems to reduce the risk of ignition. Leave the battery master on until you no longer need it. Shut down the engine just before touchdown to let it cool.
Pick a surface: You might not always have the luxury of a runway. In that case, your best option is an open, soft terrain with no obstacles.
Approach and touchdown: Maintain a steady approach to touchdown. Aim for a slight nose-up attitude so the rear fuselage touches first; it spreads out the impact and protects the engine and propeller.
After landing: Now that you have landed, shut off fuel and power. Activate the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) if it hasn't been triggered. If your radio is operational, contact emergency services or relay through the air traffic control.

Famous Belly Landing Incidents

A belly landing, or a gear-up landing, while rare, has occurred throughout aviation history. Here are some notable examples.

LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16 (2011): On November 1, 2011, a Boeing 767 made an emergency landing in Warsaw without any landing gear deployed. This occurred due to a failure in its hydraulic system, which prevented the gear from lowering. Fortunately, all 231 passengers and crew survived.
US Airways Flight 1702 (2014): In 2014, an Airbus A320 attempted takeoff from Philadelphia but suffered a nose gear collapse after aborting. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, and all 149 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
Emirates Flight 521 (2016): Although this is not a traditional belly landing, a Boeing 777 experienced a hard landing in Dubai, resulting in the aircraft sliding along the runway after its landing gear collapsed.

Enjoying the article?

Conclusion

With aviation and aircraft evolving at a phenomenal pace, the likelihood of a belly landing procedure being deployed by pilots is relatively minimal. Modern aircraft have sophisticated alert systems to tell the pilot crew if something is amiss. The cases of mechanical or technical failures are also minimal. However, in the unlikely event that it happens, pilots need to remain calm and prepare for a belly landing. Belly landing aircraft incidents serve as a reminder that belly landings demand more than luck; they require thorough preparation. So, know the causes, follow your checklists, and train like it matters, because it does.

Along with understanding belly landing, it will be a good idea to brush up on other areas of aviation, such as understanding visual flight rules. Understanding such core concepts and knowing how to act can help you stay competitive in a demanding job market. With more pilot jobs opening up, it is the right time to get your training right. Belly landing in aviation is also a stark reminder of the vital role of maintenance professionals in keeping the aircraft safe, secure, and ready for operations. Along with other profiles, aircraft maintenance engineer jobs are also becoming increasingly vital, as these individuals are responsible for ensuring fleet longevity and securing flight operations.

What is Belly Landing in Aviation?