Date: 201809
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: Baron 58/58TC
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Taxi
Aircraft component: Landing Gear
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Confusion; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: The aircraft had been in the maintenance shop for almost 9 months; during which time I did no flying. The maintenance included an annual inspection; replacement of the engines with factory new engines; installation of engine instruments; brake line replacement; complete removal and overhaul of the landing gear. Landing gear maintenance included stripping and repainting; strut seal replacement; bushing replacement; rod end replacement; transmission and drive motor overhaul. Once the plane was returned to service it was time to put the first hour of break in time on the new engines. Since I had no current flight experience and very low flight time in the aircraft; I hired the flight instructor that had taught me to fly the plane. Prior to the flight; I stated that I was nervous due to lack of recent time. I was the pilot at the controls; but he stated that he would be the PIC and would take controls if required. We took off from ZZZ and circled above the airport airspace for 20 minutes and headed north and flew for about an hour; in that time the winds kicked up at ZZZ well beyond forecast. So; we decided to land at ZZZ1 to wait out the winds as well as examine the new engine installations to confirm no fuel or oil leaks. I properly landed at ZZZ1 and began slowing down. I stated aloud that I needed to wait until clear of runway before starting landing check list; as I was taught. After exiting runway and starting taxi back to ramp; I started post landing checklist aloud: flaps up. I reached behind the yoke and switched the gear lever and the gear retracted resulting in prop strikes and the aircraft coming to rest on its belly. We exited the aircraft. The wrong switch was my error; but the plane is equipped with 2 separate redundant squat safety switches either of which should have prevented the gear retraction on the ground. The reason that they did not work is still unknown; but I suspect that they were never properly adjusted or they were mis-wired after reinstallation. The maintenance manual has a very specific adjustment process. I spoke with the shop manager and he stated that the mechanic did not recall doing the squat switch test that is called out in the rigging checklist that they used.




Synopsis: Baron 58 pilot reported actuating the gear lever instead of the flap lever after landing; resulting in a gear retraction and prop strike.