I have a vague memory from at least forty years ago, of riding in the back seat of a Mooney. I was four or five and I'm not sure what stage of the flight this occurred but I reached forward and dislodged whatever held the lever in place. The wheels then went into free fall and the lever,attached to the wheels, smashed into Dad's right elbow. I think it did more than take a bit of skin off!
Whenever Dad told this story he would always accompany it with a tale of watching through the open cockpit door of a DC3 bounding down the runway as the Captain smacked the Co-Pilot's hand away from the gear lever! (The point being that the new Co-Pilot wanted to retract the wheels while still on the ground).
Years later I used to ponder the prospect of flying along happily above the cloud and a hand (attached to a very long arm) would sneak past the C/B panel towards the STOP buttons!
Cheers - PITHBLOT