What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 07/26/01 pilot robert taibedeau, cert #2034160, attempted to depart vgt. Prior to this incident this pilot had an electrical emergency which involved extension of the landing gear without putting the gear handle in the down position. A successful landing was made and the aircraft battery was charged at a local FBO. During takeoff operations the nose gear retracted causing the propeller and gear door to contact the ground. Pilot stated that the landing gear handle was left in the up position during takeoff operations. Immediately following the incident, (statement on file at this FSDO) the gear handle position was witnessed by the owner of the FBO that had charged the aircraft battery.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 07/26/01 PILOT ROBERT TAIBEDEAU, CERT #2034160, ATTEMPTED TO DEPART VGT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THIS PILOT HAD AN ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY WHICH INVOLVED EXTENSION OF THE LANDING GEAR WITHOUT PUTTING THE GEAR HANDLE IN THE DOWN POSITION. A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE AND THE AIRCRAFT BATTERY WAS CHARGED AT A LOCAL FBO. DURING TAKEOFF OPERATIONS THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED CAUSING THE PROPELLER AND GEAR DOOR TO CONTACT THE GROUND. PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS LEFT IN THE UP POSITION DURING TAKEOFF OPERATIONS. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, (STATEMENT ON FILE AT THIS FSDO) THE GEAR HANDLE POSITION WAS WITNESSED BY THE OWNER OF THE FBO THAT HAD CHARGED THE AIRCRAFT BATTERY.