What happened
On 10 August 2023, a Piper PA-28R-201, registration G-WAMS, was returning to Staple Orford Aerodrome, Essex, following a cross-channel flight. The aircraft was operating as a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board.
As the aircraft decelerated to roughly 30 knots during the landing roll, the aircraft began to tilt toward the right. The pilot initially suspected a flat tyre; however, the right wingtip subsequently struck the runway. This impact caused the aircraft to slew off the paved surface. There were no injuries to the crew or passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to the underside of the right wingtip and a bent flap.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had correctly configured the aircraft for landing and had verified that the landing gear was in the down and locked position. At the time of the incident, the pilot was operating the aircraft from the right seat, a preference he noted for comfort during pleasure flights.
During the touchdown phase, the passenger, who was also a qualified pilot, dropped a tablet into the footwell. Fearing the device might obstruct the rudder pedals, the passenger attempted to retrieve it quickly. In the process of reaching for the device, the passenger accidentally knocked the landing gear selector out of its protective guard and toward the gear-up position. Although the pilot immediately moved the selector back, the landing gear had already become unlocked.
Findings
- The primary cause of the landing gear collapse was that the landing gear selector was inadvertently moved toward the gear-up position by the passenger.
- The passenger's attempt to retrieve a dropped tablet from the footwell led to the accidental movement of the control.
- The pilot was flying from the right seat, with the passenger occupying the left seat.