Spring device on a pivoting flap of a motor vehicle

The device has an auxiliary spring (2) provided between a body of a motor car and a flap and pre-tensioned with pre-tensioning force which is sufficient during an event in which a gas spring (1) exhibits reduced or low gas pressure, to maintain a front flap in a raised pedestrian protection system against crash. An actuator is activated by a sensor device and enables raising of the flap in the protection system against impact of a pedestrian on the flap. The auxiliary spring is designed as a metallic helical spring. The gas spring has a piston (5) that is adjustable in a cylinder (3).