What happened
The incident occurred during a training checkout flight where the pilot in command (PIC) occupied the right seat and a trainee pilot sat in the left seat. The operation involved a series of touch-and-go landings. As power was advanced for takeoff following one such landing, the PIC heard an impact sound consistent with the propellers striking the runway surface.
Although the trainee successfully lifted the aircraft off the ground, the PIC assumed command due to concerns regarding the unknown extent of damage to the propellers. To reduce the aircraft's stopping distance during the subsequent landing, the PIC intentionally retracted the main landing gear. No unsafe gear indications were observed during this emergency landing or during any of the preceding touch-and-go maneuvers. Post-incident checks confirmed that the gear warning systems were operating properly.
The investigation
Subsequent testing revealed that while the PIC had experienced buffeting during a previous landing, the nose gear retraction issue could not be duplicated. The investigation focused on verifying the functionality of the landing gear warning systems and assessing the mechanical integrity following the propeller strike.
Findings
The primary finding was the intentional extension of the main gear to reduce stopping distance after an in-flight propeller strike. The crew confirmed proper operation of the gear warning systems, ruling out a system failure as the cause of the gear retraction. The inability to duplicate the nose gear issue during testing suggested an intermittent or non-recurring mechanical fault.
Safety message
This event highlights the critical importance of clear communication and immediate action by the pilot in command when unexpected mechanical impacts occur during flight operations, particularly during training exercises involving multiple pilots.