PA34 TRAINEE ENGAGES GEAR SWITCH INSTEAD OF FLAPS SWITCH; CAUSING GEAR RETRACTION DURING LNDG ROLL OUT.

Narrative

AFTER 2 HRS FLT INSTRUCTIONS; THE STUDENT LANDED THE ACFT AND FLIPPED UP THE GEAR SWITCH ON ROLLOUT. THE NOSE AND R MAIN GEAR RETRACTED IMMEDIATELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE NOSE; BOTH PROPS; AND R WINGTIP. THE FAA HAS DECIDED THAT DUE TO MINIMAL DAMAGE; THIS WAS AN INCIDENT; AND NOT AN ACCIDENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE THE FACT THAT ON A SENECA; THE GEAR SWITCH IS ON THE L SIDE OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT; RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLT'S HAND ON THE THROTTLE. ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FACT THAT THE STUDENT WAS A HIGH TIME COMPLEX ACFT PLT; AND THE SENECA HAD A GEAR SWITCH AND FLAP BAR -- THUS REDUCING MY FEAR OF AN INADVERTENT GEAR UP AFTER LNDG (NOT 2 SIMILAR SWITCHES TO CONFUSE; AS ON A BONANZA OR BARON). CORRECTIVE ACTION: IN THE FUTURE; I WILL INSIST THAT NOTHING IS TO BE DONE UNTIL EXITING THE RWY SAFELY; AND I WILL KEEP MY HAND ON THE GEAR SWITCH UNTIL THAT TIME WHEN THE FLAPS ARE RETRACTED. I MAY REFUSE TO INSTRUCT IN ACFT WITH GEAR SWITCHES POORLY LOCATED; SUCH AS THE SENECA; AS IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE SWITCH FROM INADVERTENT RETRACTION WITHOUT CAUSING OTHER RISKS TO SAFETY OF FLT.