Beechcraft 76 Duchess — Maintenance Manual

This document is an AAIB Bulletin detailing an accident involving the Beechcraft 76 Duchess, registration G-GDMW. It provides insights into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the aircraft's operation, the crew's experience, and the mechanical aspects of the landing gear system. The report highlights the potential for inadvertent landing gear retraction during takeoff and discusses previous occurrences of similar incidents. It serves as a reference for maintenance personnel and pilots to understand the operational checks required for the landing gear system and emphasizes the importance of proper maintenance to prevent such accidents.

• The Beechcraft 76 Duchess has a two-position landing gear lever that must be pulled out to clear a safety detent before operation.
• Inadvertent retraction of the landing gear can occur if the lever is accidentally moved to UP, particularly during takeoff.
• A speed sensing safety switch prevents landing gear retraction below 59 to 63 knots on the ground.
• Maintenance checks of the landing gear system should be performed every 100 hours of operation to ensure proper function.
• Previous incidents have highlighted the need for design reviews of the landing gear selector to prevent inadvertent operation.