MATURE COPLT MISINTERPRETS PIC GESTURE TO BE A GEAR UP COMMAND. PIC SUCCESSFULLY FORCES ACFT INTO THE AIR AFTER L PROP STRIES THE RWY. RETURNS AND LANDS.

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ON TOF ROLL OUT OF OJC; THE ACFT ACCELERATED TO 80 IAS. I REMOVED MY HAND FROM THE THROTTLE FOR A FINAL CH OF THE ENG INSTS. WHEN I REMOVED MY HAND; MY COPLT (ACFT OWNER-COMMERCIAL PLT BUT NOT INSURED ANYMORE) INTERPED IT AS A 'THUMBS UP' AND RAISED THE GEAR SWITCH. I REALIZED WHAT HAPPENED AS THE ACFT STARTED TO SETTLE ONTO THE RWY. I JERED THE YOE BAC AND GOT THE ACFT FLYING; BUT THE LOW SPD AND HIGH ANGLE OF ATTAC CONTRIBUTED TO THE L TURNING TENDENCIES AND THE L WING DROPPED ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE TIPS OF THE L ENG PROP. AT THIS POINT; THE COPLT; REALIZING HIS MISTAE; PUT THE GEAR LEVER BAC DOWN. THE GEAR STRUC THE GND ON THE L SIDE; BUT 3 GREEN AND LOCED WAS INDICATED. I ELECTED TO FLY OFF THE RWY AND LEAVE THE GEAR DOWN AND THE L ENG RUNNING. I CALLED TWR AND ASED TO LAND. I WAS CLRED TO LAND AND LANDED WITHOUT EVENT. WE TAXIED BAC TO THE FBO; SHUT DOWN; AND STARTED MAING REPAIRS. I FEEL LIE THIS IS CLRLY A COMS FAILURE. I MADE IT CLR THAT THE GEAR WAS TO BE RAISED AFTER I SAID 'GEAR UP.' A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR MAY BE THE COPLT/OWNER'S AGE; MORE THAN 75 YRS.