Aircraft Information
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-ASIL, manufactured in 1963 (serial number 28-1350). It was powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A4A piston engine.
Accident Narrative
The aircraft was conducting a private approach to Runway 16 at Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport. It joined the circuit on the downwind leg at 1,100 ft agl, slowing to 90 mph on base leg while extending two stages of flap. After turning onto final approach, the pilot reduced speed to 85 mph and selected the third stage of flap. Crossing the airfield boundary, the aircraft slowed to 80 mph. The pilot then closed the throttle to glide the remaining 50–100 ft to touchdown.
As the aircraft neared the beginning of the paved surface, the pilot initiated a flare. Before the flare was complete, the wheels contacted the runway and the aircraft bounced, according to the pilot, three times. During the bounce sequence, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a halt on its nose. The pilot believed that the aircraft struck a bump at the beginning of the touchdown zone while in a relatively flat attitude and travelling at a higher ground speed due to the lack of headwind and insufficient speed reduction during the flare.
Damage
The accident resulted in a bent firewall, engine shock-loading, and damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and underside of the fuselage.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 58 years old at the time of the accident. His total flying experience was 193 hours, of which 87 hours were on the accident aircraft type. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he had flown 26 hours, and in the last 28 days, 9 hours.
Investigation
The information for this report was derived from an Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot.