Accident Overview
At 1815 UTC on 16 March 2010, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II, registration G-GUYS, was departing from Sturgate Airfield in Lincolnshire on a private flight to Gamston. The pilot, aged 65 and holding a Private Pilot's Licence with 1,806 total flying hours (1,300 on type), was the sole occupant. No passengers were on board.
Event Sequence
During the takeoff roll, approximately at the point of rotation, the pilot reported that all three landing gears began to retract. The aircraft settled onto its belly and slid to a stop. After evacuating, the pilot noticed a small fire under the trailing edge of the left wing, which was quickly extinguished by the airfield fire service.
Damage and Inspection
The aircraft sustained damage to both propellers, the underside of the fuselage, and the left wing. Examination revealed that all landing gears were up and locked, with no signs of scuffing on the doors or tires. The propeller tip damage was consistent with low-power contact with the runway.
Pilot Account and Investigation
The pilot indicated that he might have accidentally caught the landing gear selector, or that a mechanical problem could have occurred. However, subsequent investigation found no electrical or mechanical defects in the landing gear system.
Conclusion
No official probable cause was determined by the investigation. The event remains attributed to either pilot error or an undetected mechanical anomaly, as per the pilot's statement.