What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 19th, 2018 a FAA flight test pilot, was conducting a FAA air flight program proficiency flight, from bedford, ma (kbed) to Keene, NH (keen). The other occupant, a FAA flight test engineer, was occupying the right seat.
In accordance with the pilot in command (PIC) statement, he was conducting touch and go landings at keen on runway 02. At approximately 13:50 local, after two previous touch and go landings, the PIC landed on runway 02 with the intent to complete another touch and go. During the landing rollout, the landing gear retracted, and at the 2,000 foot runway marker, both propellers struck the ground. The aircrafts forward momentum propelled the aircraft on its belly with a slight, right hand turn. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, right of centerline, at the intersection of taxiway c, which is located at runway 02'S 3,000 foot marker.
In his statement, the PIC stated that after touchdown; the power levers were brought to idle, the flaps were raised via the left side lever, and the trim wheel was rotated forward. It was at his point the PIC stated that he noticed the right seat occupant was moving his legs outward, then back inward to center, and the gear retracted. The PIC stated that he believes the right seat occupant struck the gear handle with his left knee.
Video captured by an airport surveillance camera shows the aircraft in rollout with flaps up after landing; with sufficient airspeed to remain light on its wheels as the landing gear retracted. The video does not support evidence of any mechanical failure. The on scene investigation and evaluation of the flight controls showed that both the flap lever and gear handle were in the up position.
Post incident testing with the aircraft on jacks indicates that the landing gear system was functioning normally. Additionally, the landing gear weight on wheels (squat) switch was tested and operated normally. No faults in the landing gear system were noted, other than the damage caused by the incident itself.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 19TH, 2018 A FAA FLIGHT TEST PILOT, WAS CONDUCTING A FAA AIR FLIGHT PROGRAM PROFICIENCY FLIGHT, FROM BEDFORD, MA (KBED) TO KEENE, NH (KEEN). THE OTHER OCCUPANT, A FAA FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER, WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STATEMENT, HE WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT KEEN ON RUNWAY 02. AT APPROXIMATELY 13:50 LOCAL, AFTER TWO PREVIOUS TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, THE PIC LANDED ON RUNWAY 02 WITH THE INTENT TO COMPLETE ANOTHER TOUCH AND GO. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED, AND AT THE 2,000 FOOT RUNWAY MARKER, BOTH PROPELLERS STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFTS FORWARD MOMENTUM PROPELLED THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS BELLY WITH A SLIGHT, RIGHT HAND TURN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY, RIGHT OF CENTERLINE, AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAY C, WHICH IS LOCATED AT RUNWAY 02'S 3,000 FOOT MARKER.
IN HIS STATEMENT, THE PIC STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN; THE POWER LEVERS WERE BROUGHT TO IDLE, THE FLAPS WERE RAISED VIA THE LEFT SIDE LEVER, AND THE TRIM WHEEL WAS ROTATED FORWARD. IT WAS AT HIS POINT THE PIC STATED THAT HE NOTICED THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT WAS MOVING HIS LEGS OUTWARD, THEN BACK INWARD TO CENTER, AND THE GEAR RETRACTED. THE PIC STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT STRUCK THE GEAR HANDLE WITH HIS LEFT KNEE.
VIDEO CAPTURED BY AN AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT IN ROLLOUT WITH FLAPS UP AFTER LANDING; WITH SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO REMAIN LIGHT ON ITS WHEELS AS THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE VIDEO DOES NOT SUPPORT EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS SHOWED THAT BOTH THE FLAP LEVER AND GEAR HANDLE WERE IN THE UP POSITION.
POST INCIDENT TESTING WITH THE AIRCRAFT ON JACKS INDICATES THAT THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE LANDING GEAR WEIGHT ON WHEELS (SQUAT) SWITCH WAS TESTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. NO FAULTS IN THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WERE NOTED, OTHER THAN THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE INCIDENT ITSELF.