What happened
On 19 October 2016, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-AVSB, was performing a private flight when it departed the paved surface of Runway 26 at Cumbernauld Airport. During the landing roll, the pilot retracted the flaps and utilized the toe-brakes to decelerate. During this process, the aircraft swerved toward the left side of the runway.
In an effort to regain control and return the aircraft to the runway centerline, the pilot applied engine power to become airborne. However, during this maneuver, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft eventually came to a halt off the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the landing gear, and the forward fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events following the loss of directional control. The pilot noted that the aircraft's movement toward the left occurred while attempting to stop. The investigation also considered the pilot's actions following the initial swerve, specifically the application of power in an attempt to reposition the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft departed the runway following a leftward swerve during the landing roll.
- The collapse of the nose landing gear occurred when the pilot applied power to attempt to lift the aircraft back onto the runway.
- Asymmetric braking may have been applied by the pilot while attempting to decelerate on the runway.