Flight Details
A Yak 52, registration RA44463, manufactured in 1988, was involved in an incident on 17 March 2003 at approximately 1410 UTC at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset. The aircraft was powered by one Ivchenko M114P piston engine. The flight was conducted under a Private category, with two crew members on board and no passengers. The commander held a Private Pilot's Licence, aged 35, with 2,536 hours total flying experience (45 hours on type). The pilot flying as Pilot 2 (P2) was the co-owner, who had considerable experience including aerobatics on other aircraft.
Incident Sequence
The start-up, taxi, and takeoff were uneventful. The initial part of the sortie involved upper air work, including stalls and spins. The aircraft was then recovered to the Yeovilton circuit. The commander indicated he would take control for the first landing and asked P2 to lower the flaps and landing gear. After touchdown, the aircraft's speed decayed to around 10 to 20 knots with the engine at idle. The commander then requested that the flaps be raised. At this point, P2 mistakenly raised the landing gear lever instead. The aircraft began to settle onto its right side. The commander immediately stopped the engine by switching off the magnetos and operating the fuel cut-off lever. Simultaneously, the aircraft slewed to the right as the propeller stopped, coming to rest at the edge of the runway supported on its tail, right wing tip, and the still extended nose leg. After switching off the electrical circuits, the crew, who were uninjured, vacated the aircraft.
Pilot Statements
In his statement, P2 noted that he considered himself reasonably proficient and experienced, and that the preceding part of the flight did not result in any adverse effects such as disorientation or feeling unwell. However, his unfamiliarity with the aircraft caused him some momentary confusion whilst turning onto final approach, requiring him to ask the commander to confirm that the landing gear was down. It is thus probable that his subsequent inadvertent selection of the landing gear lever was also the result of unfamiliarity.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the right aileron, right flap, and underside of the rudder.