Accident Overview
On 18 May 2010 at 1330 UTC, a Cessna 172S Skyhawk, registration G-SOOA, was involved in an accident while landing at Chichester (Goodwood) Aerodrome in West Sussex. The aircraft was operated on a solo recreational flight under a Private Pilot's Licence. No passengers were on board, and the pilot reported no injuries.
Flight and Landing Sequence
The flight was returning to Chichester for a landing on Runway 24. The wind was reported as 210° with variations between 15 and 20 knots. During the final approach, the airspeed indicator showed a reduction in airspeed, prompting the pilot to apply power. This increased the airspeed to approximately 85 knots. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at a reported height of 200 feet.
The pilot then reduced power and pitched the nose up to decrease speed. The rate of descent increased. At an airspeed of approximately 75 knots, the pilot flared the aircraft. The touchdown occurred beyond the intersection with Runway 14/32. The aircraft was observed to bounce three times, with the final bounce reaching an estimated 45° pitch-up attitude before pitching nose-down and landing heavily on the nosewheel. The aircraft came to a halt near the end of the runway.
Post-Accident Actions and Damage
After landing, the pilot taxied the aircraft off the runway towards the tower. Air Traffic Control (ATC) reported that the nose oleo had suffered damage and advised the pilot to stop and shut down the engine. Debris from the front spat was subsequently removed from the runway. A later inspection revealed that the nose gear oleo was broken, propeller tips were scuffed, the front spat was split, and the engine may have been shock-loaded. Possible damage to the firewall was also noted.
Environmental and Pilot Factors
The UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) for Chichester contains a warning: 'Pilots may experience windshear on runways 06 and 24 particularly in strong wind conditions.' The pilot, aged 64, had a total flying experience of 155 hours, including 10 hours on type. In the last 90 days, he had flown 11 hours, and in the last 28 days, 5 hours.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot assessed that causal factors included being too high during the final approach, being faster than planned on touchdown, and being too far down the runway to permit a safe go-around for the given obstacles at the end of the runway. He stated that he should have aborted the landing at 200 feet and executed a go-around.