What happened
On 24 June 2003, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-BRBW, was conducting training circuits at Full Sutton Airfield in Yorkshire. The flight was being operated by a student pilot under the supervision of a flying instructor. The weather was favorable, with good visibility and light winds.
During the final approach of the fourth circuit, the student pilot was flying with full flaps selected and believed the approach was stable. As the aircraft reached the point of flare, it touched down and bounced. In an attempt to correct the bounce, the pilot applied full power; however, the engine failed to respond. Following this, the pilot moved the control column forward, leading to a second bounce. During this sequence, the nose landing gear collapsed. An instructor monitoring the flight observed the initial bounce and the subsequent porpoising motion before the aircraft came to a stop.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the runway surface following the accident. The investigation identified two distinct propeller strikes on the grass runway. These marks indicated that the engine was producing power at the moment of the strikes.
Furthermore, the investigation noted the presence of a cockpit placard instructing the pilot to advance the throttle slowly to prevent the engine from cutting out. The instructor suggested that the lack of engine response was likely due to the student advancing the throttle too rapidly, causing the engine to stall.