History of the Flight
The aircraft, a Cessna 152 (G-BIDH), was being flown by a student pilot who had earlier completed three satisfactory landings accompanied by an instructor and then one satisfactory, solo full-stop landing. Following a further takeoff and circuit, the student made an into-wind approach for a touch-and-go landing on the dry, grass runway at Beverley Airfield, East Riding of Yorkshire. The student judged his approach and touchdown to be better than those he had previously completed. However, once all three wheels were on the ground, the aircraft veered left. The student reported that he responded by applying right rudder and increasing power in preparation for takeoff. He could not prevent the aircraft from departing the runway to the left and travelling across an adjacent area of long grass. He applied the brakes and thought that he reduced power, but the aircraft did not stop until it collided with a windsock pole, causing the propeller to detach. The student turned off the fuel and the electric master switch before exiting the aircraft, which had pitched nose-down.
The instructor witnessed the accident from the clubhouse where he was operating the air/ground radio. He thought the student’s landing was good but then saw the aircraft veer off the runway. He made a radio call instructing the student to reduce power, but the student had no recollection of hearing this transmission. The instructor watched as the aircraft hit the windsock pole.
Aircraft Inspection
Following the accident, the operator discovered that the left nose leg support strut had broken and suggested this may have caused the pilot to lose directional control. However, it is also possible that this occurred when the aircraft collided with the pole. The right arm of the nosewheel fork had fractured, and this appeared to be a direct result of the impact. The operator reported that the throttle was found to be fully open, while the damage to the pole was consistent with the propeller striking the pole at a high power setting, causing all six threaded inserts on the crankshaft flange to be torn out as the propeller detached. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear, engine cowling, and propeller, and the engine was shock-loaded. The windsock pole was knocked down.