What happened
On 16 March 2010, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II, registration G-GUYS, was performing a private flight from Sturgate Airfield in Lincolnshire to Gamston. During the takeoff phase, as the aircraft reached the point of rotation, the landing gear unexpectedly began to retract. This caused the aircraft to settle onto its fuselage belly while still on the runway.
Following the impact, the pilot evacuated the aircraft and discovered a small fire beneath the trailing edge of the left wing. The airfield fire service responded quickly and extinguished the flames. The aircraft sustained damage to the underside of the fuselage, the left wing, and both propellers, with the propeller tip damage indicating contact with the runway under low power conditions.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft to determine the cause of the gear retraction. The inspection confirmed that all three landing gears were in the up and locked position prior to the incident, with no evidence of scuffing on the tyres or gear doors. The investigation found no electrical or mechanical defects within the landing gear system that would have caused an uncommanded retraction.
Findings
- The pilot reported that the gear retraction occurred at the point of rotation.
- The pilot suggested the retraction may have been caused by an accidental movement of the landing gear selector or a potential mechanical issue, though no such defect was identified.
- No mechanical or electrical fault was found in the landing gear system.