SON OF THE PLT OF A BEECH 36 INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LNDG GEAR WHEN HE HIT THE GEAR SWITCH WITH HIS KNEE.

Narrative

DURING THE ROLLOUT FROM LNDG AT TRUCKEE ARPT; MY 15 YR OLD SON REPOSITIONED HIMSELF IN THE R FRONT SEAT AND; ACCIDENTALLY; HIT THE GEAR SWITCH WITH HIS KNEE; CAUSING THE GEAR TO PARTIALLY RETRACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THIS INCIDENT DID NOT RESULT IN 'SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE' AS DEFINED BY NTSB. THE GEAR SWITCH ON MY 1981 A36TC BONANZA IS LOCATED ON THE LOWER R PAX SIDE OF THE PANEL. THIS LOCATION IS VULNERABLE TO BEING ACCIDENTALLY HIT BY A PAX'S KNEE IF REPOSITIONING THEMSELVES; AND PAX DON'T USUALLY ADVISE THE PLT BEFORE DOING SO. ALTHOUGH MY SON HAS FLOWN WITH ME MANY TIMES AND IS AWARE OF THE GEAR SWITCH LOCATION; ADDITIONAL BRIEFING BY ME PRIOR TO LNDG MAY HAVE PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT. IN ADDITION; LOCATION OF THE GEAR SWITCH ON THE PLT SIDE -- WHERE BEECHCRAFT MOVED THE SWITCH TO IN 1984 -- WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT. SINCE THIS SWITCH CAN'T BE MOVED; PLTS OF THESE ACFT SHOULD CAREFULLY BRIEF THEIR PAX OF THE LOCATION OF THE GEAR SWITCH AND THE DANGERS OF GETTING TOO CLOSE OR HITTING IT INADVERTENTLY.