What happened
On June 27, 2013, a Fouga Magister CM-170, registration F-GLHF, was performing an introductory flight at Lelystad Airport. The aircraft, operated by the Dutch Historic Jet Association, carried a captain and a passenger, who was an experienced flight instructor but unfamiliar with jet aircraft. After performing several maneuvers, including loops and rolls, the aircraft returned to the airport for landing.
Immediately following the landing, the captain announced via intercom that the flaps were being set to 15 degrees for a potential go-around. During this moment, the passenger, attempting to assist, mistakenly manipulated the landing gear lever. This action caused the landing gear to retract while the aircraft was still on the runway. The aircraft subsequently settled onto its belly and slid along the runway until it came to a halt. There were no injuries to the two occupants, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to the fuselage underside and the main landing gear.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) examined the cockpit environment and the specific actions of both occupants. The investigation noted that while the passenger was a highly experienced pilot in piston-engine aircraft, he had no prior experience with the Fouga Magister. The investigation also reviewed the cockpit layout, specifically noting that the landing gear lever in the Fouga Magister CM-170 bears a visual resemblance to flap levers found in other aircraft types, such as the Cessna.
Findings
- The passenger mistakenly identified the landing gear lever as the flap selector.
- The captain's verbal announcement that the flaps were at 15 degrees was interpreted by the passenger as a prompt to correct the lever position.
- The passenger retracted the landing gear lever by reflex, believing it was the flap lever, because the lever's design was similar to the flap handles in his accustomed aircraft.
- The aircraft's dual-cockpit design meant the passenger in the rear seat could not see the actions or the lever position being managed by the captain in the front seat.