Synopsis
A Europa aircraft, registration G-BXFG, experienced a landing gear retraction during landing at Eaglescott Airfield, Burrington, Devon, on 14 June 2014 at 1640 hrs UTC. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the fuselage and left wing, and the propeller blades were broken.
History of the Flight
According to the pilot's report, following a short local flight, he performed his pre-landing checks. He distinctly remembered lowering the landing gear and verifying by feel that the operating lever was in the down position. On the Europa, the landing gear and flaps are controlled by the same lever. The pilot noted that the landing attitude appeared normal. However, upon touchdown, the landing gear retracted, and the aircraft slid along the grass strip for approximately 150 m before coming to rest.
Discussion
The aircraft's landing gear operating lever moves within a narrow slot and is locked into position by moving the lever sideways into a detent. A safety latch on the lever engages in this detent to prevent inadvertent movement out of the down position. The latch's position also provides visual confirmation that the gear is locked down. The pilot believed he had moved the lever into the correct position but did not visually confirm it. He identified that a key learning point from this accident is to always visually check that the landing gear lever is correctly locked in the detent.
Probable Cause
The AAIB determined that the landing gear operating lever was probably not locked in the down position before landing, resulting in the landing gear retracting when the aircraft touched down.