Aircraft and Flight Details
A Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee (registration G-DIAT, serial number 28-7425322, manufactured 1974) was operating a solo cross-country navigation training flight on 30 August 2013 at 1255 UTC. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming O-320-E2A piston engine. The student pilot, aged 43, had a total flying experience of 71 hours (50 hours on type), with 21 hours in the last 90 days and 20 hours in the last 28 days. No passengers were on board.
History of the Flight
The student pilot was landing at Sandtoft Airfield, Lincolnshire, at the end of a solo navigation exercise. Runway 23 was in use, and weather conditions were fine with a surface wind of 15 kt from 230°.
Events of the Landing
The student pilot flew the final approach at 70 kt and closed the throttle at the point of flare. He reported feeling a gust of wind that caused the aircraft to "balloon". The aircraft then pitched nose-down, apparently as the student attempted to land, before entering a series of pitch oscillations and bounces. The aircraft touched down in an approximately normal attitude, then bounced and became airborne again. The second touchdown was in a flatter attitude, subjecting the nosewheel to a harder landing force than usual. The student did not consider the touchdown excessive and did not believe the nosewheel contacted first. However, the nosewheel detached from the aircraft on the third bounce. The aircraft came to a stop on the asphalt runway. The Airfield Fire Service attended the scene, but the pilot was able to vacate the aircraft normally.
Witness and Instructor Observations
The student’s flying instructor reported that the student had completed eight good landings prior to the accident. Another club instructor witnessed the event and noted that the aircraft’s approach appeared higher and faster than normal, leading to a balloon at the point of flare.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear and propeller. The student pilot was uninjured.