Incident Details
On 10 September 2001 at 1500 UTC, a Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-28 Warrior, registration G-RVRA, experienced a nose landing gear collapse during landing at Welshpool Airfield. The aircraft was on a private flight with only the pilot on board. The pilot had joined the circuit and carried out downwind checks, selecting the first stage of flap. Turning onto final approach to Runway 04, the reported surface wind was variable but generally from 330° at 14 knots. During the approach at an indicated airspeed of 75 knots, the pilot maintained a heading to the left of the runway direction to track the extended centreline. As the aircraft passed over trees before the runway threshold, it appeared to lose speed and height. The pilot rapidly applied power, but the aircraft struck the runway heavily. The nose landing gear wheel detached, allowing the propeller to contact the runway surface. The aircraft skidded to a halt, and the pilot carried out emergency shutdown drills before leaving through the normal exit. The airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Service attended immediately, and a local nurse assisted the pilot, who had received a minor head wound when his spectacles were pushed into his eyebrow by the impact.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-28 Warrior, manufactured in 1975, with one Lycoming 0-320-E3D piston engine. The nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller was bent.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 49, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had a total flying experience of 112 hours, of which 11 hours were on type. His flying in the last 90 days amounted to 2 hours, and in the last 28 days also 2 hours.
Cause
The pilot considered that the cause of the accident was the wind variations on approach causing a sudden loss of speed and height, which he did not correct quickly enough with his application of power.