What happened
On 30 June 2017, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-HOCK, was performing a private flight when it encountered difficulties during the landing phase at Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight. As the aircraft was touching down, the pilot was momentarily distracted by an object striking the windscreen. This distraction led the pilot to briefly pull back on the control wheel, causing the aircraft to become airborne again momentarily.
Following this, the aircraft landed heavily and underwent several bounces. During the final bounce, the nosewheel collapsed, resulting in the propeller and spinner making contact with the ground. The impact caused damage to the engine, fuselage, nosewheel, propeller, and spinner. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the aircraft without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the impact and the physical damage sustained by the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft's movement during the landing roll was a direct result of the pilot's reaction to an external stimulus hitting the windscreen.