What happened
On 3 May 2014, a Yak-52, registration G-CBMD, was involved in a ground accident at Rochester Airport, Kent. Following the completion of a private local flight, the aircraft was taxiing toward a runway exit on Runway 02. During this maneuver, the pilot attempted to retract the wing flaps but mistakenly operated the landing gear lever instead. This error caused the landing gear to partially retract, resulting in the rear of the aircraft and the left wingtip making contact with the grass surface. The incident resulted in no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained slight damage to the aileron and the left wingtip.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events following the pilot's submission of an accident report. The inquiry established that the mechanical movement of the gear was triggered by an incorrect control input by the commander. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent flying history, noting that while the commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence and possessed 503 total flying hours—including 385 hours on the Yak-52—there had been a significant period of inactivity on this specific aircraft type. The pilot had only flown once since December 2013, and that single flight had been performed in a PA-28 rather than the Yak-52.