SMA PLT HAS GEAR RETRACT DURING TAXI.

Narrative

SINCE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE NOSE GEAR HAVE BEEN FOUND TO DATE; IT IS BELIEVED THAT INSTEAD OF OPENING THE COWL FLAPS; I INADVERTENTLY PLACED THE GEAR HANDLE IN THE UP POS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MOTION IS SIMILAR BUT NOT IDENTICAL WHEN OPENING THE COWL FLAPS OR PLACING THE GEAR HANDLE IN THE 'UP' POS. THE COWL FLAPS ARE SUSPECT SINCE I DO NOT RECALL REACHING FOR AND MOVING THE GEAR HANDLE AFTER LNDG ROLLOUT OR DURING TAXI. ALSO; THE COWL FLAPS WERE NOTED TO BE IN THE CLOSED POS AFTER THE INCIDENT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS -- MAKE SURE THAT ALL CHKLIST ITEMS ARE VISUALLY IDENTED BEFORE EXECUTION OF OP IS PERFORMED. I POSSIBLY WAS MENTALLY DISTRACTED DURING THE AFTER LNDG CHKLIST AND FAILED TO VISUALLY IDENT THE COWL FLAP LEVER BEFORE OPENING. A REVIEW OF THE LNDG GEAR SYS REVEALS THAT WHEN THE GEAR IS DOWN AND LOCKED; AND THE SQUAT SWITCH DETECTING WT ON THE NOSE GEAR; AN 'UP' GEAR HANDLE WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY AUDIBLE OR VISUAL GEAR UNSAFE WARNING. INSTEAD; A GREEN GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATION IS PROVIDED. SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAXI IN THIS CONDITION AS LONG AS THE SQUAT SWITCH DETECTS WT ON THE NOSEWHEEL; AND NOT DETECT THE GEAR UP CONDITION.