Circumstances
On 18 June 2010 at 1006 UTC, a Cessna 152 (registration G-CEYI) sustained damage during a landing at RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire. The flight was a private currency flight. The cloud was overcast at about 1,500 ft, so the pilot elected to fly circuits at the airfield. Grass Runway 02 was in use; the wind was light from the north-east and visibility was good.
The first circuit was described as normal. The second circuit was also normal until the aircraft bounced on touchdown. The subsequent landing was flat and firm. After rolling a few metres, the nose landing gear collapsed. The propeller blades struck the surface and the aircraft came to a halt on the runway with the engine stopped. The pilot turned off the fuel, magnetos, and master switch, then vacated the aircraft normally and was uninjured. There was no fire.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 152, manufactured in 1979, with one Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 78 years old. His total flying experience was 24,350 hours, of which 30 hours were on type. In the last 90 days he had flown 4 hours, and in the last 28 days, 1 hour.
Damage
The damage included the nose landing gear, propeller, engine cowling, engine, engine bay, firewall, and lower fuselage.
Probable Cause (as reported by the pilot)
The pilot reported that the accident occurred because, having bounced, he did not go-around or, alternatively, maintain the correct landing attitude. Thus, during the subsequent firm landing the nose landing gear was overloaded and collapsed. He also considered that his lack of recent experience in light aircraft may have been a factor.