The D-18 Beech also known as JRB, SNB (Navy and Coast Guard) or AT-11 or C-45 (US Air Force) was really a great aircraft but it had a serious design flaw. The landing gear and the flaps were driven by the same electric motor. A clutch would engage the motor into the system that the pilot wanted to extend or retract. Upon landing if the pilot wanted to raise the flaps he first had to raise a panel on the flight deck to see that the clutch was in the right position otherwise he could inadvertently raise the gear. It happened a lot. Or, conversely if the aircraft was taking off when the pilot wanted to raise the gear he could inadvertently raise the flaps.
It was also difficult to maintain anything on the back of the engine because the engine was so close to the firewall.
