Introduction
On 7 July 2002 at 1820 UTC, a privately operated Yakovlev Yak-50 (registration RA44549) sustained damage during a landing with the landing gear retracted at Compton Abbas Airfield, Wiltshire. The sole pilot on board was uninjured. The aircraft, manufactured in 1982 and powered by a single Ivchenko Vedeneyev M-14P piston engine, suffered damage to its propeller, cowling, and shock loading to the engine.
Sequence of Events
The pilot, a 50-year-old Commercial Pilots Licence holder with 976 total flying hours (39 on type), was flying the downwind leg of the circuit. He believed he moved the landing gear selector lever to the down position and engaged the locking slide—a device designed primarily to prevent an up selection while on the ground. The pilot could not recall whether the green landing gear locked lights illuminated, as he was concentrating on other circuit traffic. During the final approach, he visually checked that the lever was not in the up position and remembers seeing the locking bar correctly engaged. Nevertheless, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear still retracted, resulting in the described damage.
Investigation Findings
A subsequent engineering inspection determined that the landing gear system was fully serviceable. Flight testing confirmed that it was possible to lower the landing gear lever to a position where the locking slide could be engaged without activating the lowering system, though achieving this position was extremely difficult.
No probable cause was stated in the investigation report.