C177 pilot retracted the gear too early during takeoff resulting in a propeller strike.

Attributes
ACN	515882
Time
Date	200106
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hef.airport
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hef.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 0 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	515882
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : lndg gear position ind. other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While practicing a soft field takeoff at manassas, I pulled the lever to recycle the gear before obtaining sufficient altitude. I had 30 degree flaps, back pressure enough to reduce weight off nosewheel (by this time I had put the checklist aside). When the controls became responsive and I felt lift (speed 60-70 mph), I started my final firewall/flaps/gear procedure (firewall consists of feeling that throttle, propeller, fuel are all forward). Immediately after cycling the flaps and gear, I immediately realized that the gear handle was wrong (should not have been cycled) and tried to push it down. I looked out my side and saw the main still down and appeared to be rolling. I had released some pressure. Then I heard the zing sound. I yanked back on yoke and immediate was airborne. The plane climbed normally (80-85 mph). Upon turning, I reduced power to 2500 RPM but was afraid to cycle the propeller (I know the handle/gear was down at this point because I recycled gear twice while in pattern insuring the lights changed and that I heard the thumps). I completed the pattern and made landing (nose high) and rolled out. I didn't apply brakes until I felt nose completely down on surface. I parked the plane and went to notify the owners.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C177 PLT RETRACTED THE GEAR TOO EARLY DURING TKOF RESULTING IN A PROP STRIKE.

Narrative: WHILE PRACTICING A SOFT FIELD TKOF AT MANASSAS, I PULLED THE LEVER TO RECYCLE THE GEAR BEFORE OBTAINING SUFFICIENT ALT. I HAD 30 DEG FLAPS, BACK PRESSURE ENOUGH TO REDUCE WT OFF NOSEWHEEL (BY THIS TIME I HAD PUT THE CHKLIST ASIDE). WHEN THE CTLS BECAME RESPONSIVE AND I FELT LIFT (SPD 60-70 MPH), I STARTED MY FINAL FIREWALL/FLAPS/GEAR PROC (FIREWALL CONSISTS OF FEELING THAT THROTTLE, PROP, FUEL ARE ALL FORWARD). IMMEDIATELY AFTER CYCLING THE FLAPS AND GEAR, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT THE GEAR HANDLE WAS WRONG (SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CYCLED) AND TRIED TO PUSH IT DOWN. I LOOKED OUT MY SIDE AND SAW THE MAIN STILL DOWN AND APPEARED TO BE ROLLING. I HAD RELEASED SOME PRESSURE. THEN I HEARD THE ZING SOUND. I YANKED BACK ON YOKE AND IMMEDIATE WAS AIRBORNE. THE PLANE CLBED NORMALLY (80-85 MPH). UPON TURNING, I REDUCED PWR TO 2500 RPM BUT WAS AFRAID TO CYCLE THE PROP (I KNOW THE HANDLE/GEAR WAS DOWN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I RECYCLED GEAR TWICE WHILE IN PATTERN INSURING THE LIGHTS CHANGED AND THAT I HEARD THE THUMPS). I COMPLETED THE PATTERN AND MADE LNDG (NOSE HIGH) AND ROLLED OUT. I DIDN'T APPLY BRAKES UNTIL I FELT NOSE COMPLETELY DOWN ON SURFACE. I PARKED THE PLANE AND WENT TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.