Landing gear retraction leads to excursion of Beech Baron at Warwickshire airfield

Casualties unknown • Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, Warwickshire, GB

A Beech Baron 95-B55 experienced a partial landing gear retraction during a touch-and-go landing, resulting in the aircraft striking the runway surface.

What happened

On 27 March 2021, a Beech Baron 95-B55, registration G-UROP, was conducting a private flight at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield. The flight was intended as a training session for a co-owner whose multi-engine piston rating had expired, with an experienced instructor acting as the aircraft commander.

After approximately 20 minutes of flight, the aircraft returned to the airfield to perform a series of touch-and and-go maneuvers. During the approach to Runway 18, the crew confirmed the landing gear was down and locked. While the aircraft touched down normally, the sudden increase in engine power caused the aircraft to settle onto its nose and left wingtip. Both propellers struck the runway, and the aircraft slid to a halt. There were no injuries to the two crew members or the single passenger on board.

The investigation

Investigators examined the aircraft and found damage to the nose, the left outer wing, and various landing gear components. Both engines had suffered shock-loading, and both propellers were damaged. Notably, the right main landing gear inner door showed abrasion, which indicated that the gear had partially retracted and then re-extended during the ground roll.

During the investigation, the instructor noted that his left hand had been positioned near the landing gear switch while bracing against the control yoke, suggesting the switch might have been accidentally bumped. However, the condition of the landing gear switch was difficult to assess because the toggle teeth were found to be misaligned during the AAIB inspection, suggesting the switch had been disturbed after the accident.

Findings

  • The aircraft's landing gear partially retracted and then re-extended while the aircraft was still on the runway.
  • The aircraft was not equipped with an optional landing gear safety system designed to prevent retraction below a specific airspeed.
  • An optional guard for the landing gear switch, which could have prevented accidental movement, was also not installed on the aircraft.
  • The exact cause of the gear retraction could not be definitively established due to the landing gear switch being disturbed prior to the official examination.

Probable cause

The investigation could not conclusively identify the cause of the landing gear retraction, though evidence suggested the gear partially retracted and re-extended during the ground roll, potentially due to accidental contact with the switch or the lack of a safety lockout system.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2021-03-27 Beech Baron 95-B55 accident near Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, Warwickshire, GB?

A Beech Baron 95-B55 experienced a partial landing gear retraction during a touch-and-go landing, resulting in the aircraft striking the runway surface.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2021-03-27 involved a Beech Baron 95-B55, registration G-UROP, at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, Warwickshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The investigation could not conclusively identify the cause of the landing gear retraction, though evidence suggested the gear partially retracted and re-extended during the ground roll, potentially due to accidental contact with the switch or the lack of a safety lockout system.

Loading the flight search…