Incident Overview
A pilot flying a retractable landing gear-equipped aircraft reported an unusual chain of events leading to a gear-up landing. According to the pilot, during the flight, a GPS unit fell from its mount, causing the device's antenna cable to become entangled around the landing gear selector switch.
Sequence of Events
While maneuvering for landing, the pilot applied aft pressure to the yoke to initiate the flare. This action caused the loose antenna cable to shift, which in turn moved the landing gear switch from the down position to the retract position. The aircraft touched down with the landing gear still retracted.
Damage Assessment
After touchdown, the airplane skidded along the runway before coming to a stop. The fuselage longerons and stringers sustained substantial damage, as did the wing-spar carry-through structure. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft would have precluded normal operation prior to the incident.
Pilot Report
The pilot noted that the GPS mount failure and subsequent cable entanglement were the direct precursors to the unintended gear retraction. No other contributing factors were identified in the pilot's account.