What happened
On 9 September 2006, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-AVGD, was performing a private flight from Cranfield to Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield. During the approach to Runway 18, the pilot encountered a left crosswind of approximately 11 knots. To maintain alignment with the runway centerline, the pilot initially used a crab technique before transitioning to a wing-down method using left aileron and right rudder as the aircraft neared the threshold.
While the touchdown on the main wheels was smooth and occurred roughly 180 m from the threshold, the aircraft experienced a sudden and violent deviation to the left upon the nosewheel making contact with the runway. The aircraft turned onto a disused runway intersecting Runway 18, approximately 250 m from the threshold. During this excursion, the right wing tip struck the ground. The subsequent movement caused the nosewheel to collapse, leading the propeller and engine mounts to strike the ground and bringing the aircraft to an immediate stop. Both occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight controls, the environmental conditions at the time of landing, and the pilot's inputs. The inquiry focused on the sequence of events between the main wheel touchdown and the nosewheel contact. The pilot suggested that the sudden turn might have been triggered by a combination of a wind gust and the simultaneous application of left aileron and excessive left rudder.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a violent veer to the left immediately after the nosewheel contacted the runway.
- The aircraft's right wing tip, propeller, and engine mounts sustained damage during the excursion.
- The pilot's inputs, specifically the use of left aileron and right rudder, may have contributed to the directional instability when combined with a potential gust of wind.