What happened
On 17 April 2005, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-BCGT, was conducting a private flight from Shoreham to Compton Abbas with two passengers on board. While approaching Runway 26, the pilot was informed of a south-southwest surface wind of 15 knots. To manage a slightly high approach, the pilot deployed full flaps and maintained a speed of 70 knots, using a crab technique to compensate for the crosswind.
At approximately 100 feet above the ground, the aircraft encountered turbulence, causing it to sink more rapidly than anticipated. This resulted in a heavy initial touchdown followed by a bounce. During the second touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid approximately 50 metres in a nose-down attitude, causing the propeller to bend, the engine to suffer a shock load, and the right wingtip to buckle. There were no injuries to the pilot or passengers.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's handling characteristics and the environmental conditions at the airfield. Compton Abbas is a grass airfield located on a ridge, and the investigation noted that trees along the southern boundary are known to generate turbulence during approaches with southerly winds.
Investigators also reviewed the use of flap settings for the Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee. While the 40-degree flap setting is designed to increase drag and lower landing speeds, it can impact controllability and go-around performance. The pilot noted that the use of full flaps likely hindered his ability to manage the aircraft during the crosswind approach.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a heavy landing and subsequent bounce due to turbulence encountered at low altitude.
- The nose landing gear collapse occurred during the second touchdown.
- The pilot's decision to use full flaps contributed to reduced control during the crosswind approach.
- Environmental turbulence was a factor, driven by the wind direction interacting with nearby trees.