What happened
On 11 March 2000, a Grumman AA-5, registration G-BLFW, was conducting a private flight from a landing strip near Swindon to Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire. The weather at the destination was reported as having good visibility and a surface wind of 12 knots from the north.
The pilot was utilizing runway 26, which offered a landing distance of 803 metres. Although the grass surface was wet, it remained firm. The approach was established at a speed between 80 and 85 knots and was initially perceived as normal by the pilot.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot reduced the throttle and lowered the nose. However, as the airspeed decreased, the aircraft struck the ground with significant force and bounced a second time. The pilot applied power to recover, but the aircraft struck the ground again, resulting in the collapse of the nosewheel. The aircraft came to a stop, and the pilot successfully shut off the fuel and electrical systems before exiting the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of the landing attempt and the physical impact on the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and the engine was shock loaded due to the heavy impacts with the ground.