What happened
On 7 January 2013, a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIX, registration G-RRGN, was involved in a ground incident at East Midlands Airport. Following a successful landing on Runway 27, the aircraft was taxiing toward the exit when the undercarriage unexpectedly retracted. This movement caused the wooden propeller to make contact with the runway surface, resulting in the propeller shattering. The impact also caused damage to the lower engine cowling, both radiator fairings, the left aileron, the left flap, and the underside of the left wing. There were no injuries to the pilot during the event.
The investigation
The investigation examined the cockpit configuration and the actions of the pilot. It was determined that the pilot intended to retract the flaps rather than the landing gear. In the Spitfire Mk XIX cockpit, the flap lever and the undercarriage selector are positioned on opposite sides of the cockpit. The pilot's intention to retract the flaps shortly after landing is a common procedure to reduce the impact of the flaps on the airflow required to cool the radiators. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was not equipped with a weight-on-wheels protection circuit, which would have prevented the gear from retracting while the aircraft was on the ground.
Findings
- The pilot inadvertently selected the undercarriage to the UP position instead of the flap lever.
- The physical separation of the control levers on different sides of the cockpit contributed to the error.
- The aircraft lacked a mechanical or electrical protection system to prevent undercarriage retraction while the weight of the aircraft was on the wheels.