During the takeoff roll at the airport in Raleigh, North Carolina, the pilot accelerated the Beech 58 to rotation speed.
Upon starting to rotate the airplane, the nose landing gear began a retraction sequence, collapsing under the airplane. The pilot reduced the throttles to idle and applied the brakes. The main landing gear also retracted, and the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage.
Both the pilot and the pilot-rated passenger verified that the landing gear handle was in the down position prior to and after the accident.
Post-accident examination revealed damage to several wires leading to the landing gear selector switch on the instrument panel. The wires were found to be actively arcing when moved or touched.
Probable Cause: Damage to the landing gear selector switch wire bundle which resulted in an inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll.
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This September 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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