Accident Details
On 30 December 2014, at 1015 hrs, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II (registration G-BFYM) sustained damage during a landing at Beverley Airfield, Yorkshire. The aircraft, manufactured in 1978, was operated on a private flight with only the pilot aboard. The pilot, a 62-year-old commercial licence holder with 1,163 total flying hours (1,019 on type), was uninjured.
Previous Incident
Two days before the accident, the aircraft had force-landed without damage in a field southeast of Beverley Airfield following an engine failure. An engineer examined the engine, found no faults, and conducted a successful test run. The failure was attributed to possible carburettor icing. It was decided to fly the aircraft out of the field back to the airfield.
Sequence of Events
On the accident day, the pilot started the engine at about 1000 hrs and ran it for 10 minutes, including a power check, before taxiing. Another power check was performed before takeoff under full power, and the aircraft climbed normally. However, on final approach to Runway 30, the engine again lost all power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed, but fearing a ditch before the threshold, raised the nose to clear it. The aircraft then stalled and landed heavily, detaching the nosewheel and right mainwheel before coming to a stop.
Damage Assessment
The right mainwheel and nosewheel were detached. Additional damage included the left wingtip, right flap, firewall, engine frame, and propeller.
Investigation Findings
No cause of the engine failure has been determined, although the pilot suspects the second failure was not due to carburettor icing.