Event
On 18 June 2015, a student pilot flying solo in a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-CGHM, conducted a training flight at Caernarfon Airport, Gwynedd. The instructor on the ground observed the approach was slightly high and fast. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. The pilot did not increase power, and a second bounce occurred. A third bounce then resulted in a propeller strike. The student pilot subsequently opened the throttle and performed a go-around, landing successfully on a later attempt.
Aircraft
The aircraft, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee (serial no. 28-7425143), was manufactured in 1974 and powered by a Lycoming O-320-E3D piston engine. The accident caused damage to the propeller and nose landing gear, and the engine was shock-loaded.
Pilot
The student pilot, aged 48, held a student licence and had accumulated 31 hours of flying experience, all on the PA-28 type. In the previous 90 days, they had flown 13 hours, and 6 hours in the last 28 days.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries were reported among the crew (the sole occupant). The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and nose leg, and the engine was shock-loaded.