Aviation safety investigations & reports
Rockwell Aero Commander 500S, VH-MEH, Charters Towers QLD [*DR], 23 September 1987
198703506

Summary
The pilot had been conducting a six and a half hour low level survey flight. He stated that on joining the circuit, at the completion of the flight, he lowered the landing gear and obtained a gear down indication. The gear indication was again checked on final approach but during the subsequent landing roll, as the nosewheel was being lowered to the runway, the landing gear handle in the cockpit sprung to the up position. The landing gear retracted and the aircraft slide to a halt on its undersurface. An inspection of the aircraft could find no pre-impact defect with the landing gear or its systems which could have contributed to this inadvertent retraction. The landing gear was found to be capable of normal operation. The reason for the selector deselection remains undetermined.
General details
Date: | 23 September 1987 | Investigation status: | Completed | ||
Time: | 1815 | ||||
Location: | Charters Towers QLD [*DR] | ||||
State: | Queensland | ||||
Release date: | 23 November 1987 | Occurrence category: | Accident | ||
Report status: | Final | Highest injury level: | None |
Aircraft details
Aircraft manufacturer | Aero Commander | |
---|---|---|
Aircraft model | 500 | |
Aircraft registration | VH-MEH | |
Serial number | 3258 | |
Type of operation | Aerial Work | |
Damage to aircraft | Substantial | |
Departure point | Charters Towers QLD | |
Departure time | 1145 | |
Destination | Charters Tower QLD |