Incident
On 4 August 2018 at 1555 UTC, a privately operated Europa XS, registration G-IMAB, experienced an uncommanded retraction of its landing gear and flaps during the takeoff roll at East Kirkby Airfield, Lincolnshire. The aircraft slid approximately 50 meters before coming to a stop. The pilot and sole passenger were uninjured.
Aircraft Details
The Europa XS is a single-engine aircraft with a retractable mainwheel, fixed tailwheel, and retractable outriggers on the wings. The landing gear and flaps are controlled by a single lever on the center console between the seats. The lever has two gates at the ends of its travel for the up and down positions, with a bias to the right to aid entry into the gates. A safety latch, which rotates under its own weight, normally drops into a slot to prevent inadvertent retraction. Some owners install a spring to assist the latch, but G-IMAB did not have this modification.
Pilot Statement
The pilot, who held a Private Pilot’s Licence with 4,002 total flight hours (9 on type), had acquired G-IMAB a few months before the accident. His operating experience on the Europa XS was limited to this airframe. He noted that the gear lever appeared to require an undue amount of pressure to engage the down position, which he considered normal given his limited type experience. He also stated that the gear lever on G-IMAB was not biased to the right, contrary to the design specification.
During pre-flight checks, the pilot verified that the safety latch was in place. He reported that the takeoff roll was bumpy and, just before rotation, the passenger observed the gear lever move forward without external input. The pilot theorized that the bumpy surface may have caused the safety latch to jump out of position, allowing the lever to move sideways out of the down gate. He believed the forces were then sufficient for the landing gear to retract.
Investigation
An initial examination by a Light Aircraft Association (LAA) inspector revealed wear in the landing gear mechanism but no obvious cause for the uncommanded retraction. A subsequent, more detailed inspection, completed after the initial report, found no anomalies with the landing gear system.
The LAA Type Acceptance Data Sheet refers to Flight Safety Bulletin FSB004, which mandates annual checks on retractable monowheel aircraft, including retraction tests and specific requirements for the main undercarriage, tailwheel, and outriggers.
Outcome
The aircraft has been repaired, and an optional spring to assist the landing gear safety latch has been installed.