What happened
During a standard takeoff sequence, the crew of an Avro Dove attempted to retract the landing gear once airborne. During this process, the undercarriage selector knob became stuck, necessitating that the radio operator assist by using the undercarriage safety switch. While the gear retracted as intended, the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the runway surface.
Following the impact, the pilot deactivated engine power, and the aircraft slid at high velocity along the runway for a significant distance. The impact triggered a fire near the rear of the starboard engine nacelle, likely caused by damaged fuel lines or electrical wiring. Despite the intensity of the blaze, all passengers and crew managed to evacuate the aircraft safely before it was nearly destroyed by the flames.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors. The primary issue was that the aircraft was lifted from the ground after an insufficient takeoff roll at a low velocity. The landing gear was retracted while the aircraft was still at a very low altitude and had not yet reached a safe airspeed. This premature retraction caused the plane to sink back onto the runway.
It was noted that the pilot's concentration may have been diverted by the mechanical difficulty of operating the undercarriage lever, which is known to be cumbersome in this aircraft type. Additionally, the pilot chose to fly without flaps, despite takeoff notes suggesting 20 degrees of flap, due to concerns regarding single-engine handling.
Regarding the post-impact fire, several secondary factors were noted. The engine nacelle fire extinguishers were not activated by the pilot. Furthermore, while airport emergency services arrived with a large volume of foam, their effectiveness was hindered by the use of an unserviceable taxi track and the relative inexperience of the responding crew.