Cessna 172RG forced landing. Gear up or down if given the choice
The Cessna 172 RG Manufacturer's POH states that in event of a forced landing on a rough or soft surface the landing gear should be up.
This appears to contradict the general advice that landing gear on nosewheel aircraft is best left down if forced landing on unprepared surfaces. My understanding is this gear down policy is to do with energy being absorbed by the landing gear thus reducing the risk of pilot spinal injury.
Certainly that is SOP for military aircraft. Why should the Cessna 172RG be any different?