What happened
On 10 May 1998, a Piper PA-28-140, registration G-BBEV, was conducting a private pleasure flight departing from Blackpool Airport. The flight involved a crew of two and two passengers. After completing a local circuit, the aircraft returned to the airfield to land on Runway 10.
During the initial approach, the pilot performed a go-around due to the presence of other traffic on the airfield. Upon a second approach, the aircraft was cleared to land under CAVOK weather conditions. However, just before reaching the runway surface, the aircraft experienced a sudden increase in the rate of descent. This resulted in a heavy landing that caused the nosewheel to collapse. The aircraft subsequently slid along the runway before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to the occupants, and the crew and passengers were able to exit the aircraft without assistance. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and nosewheel, and the engine was shock loaded.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the circumstances of the landing and the aircraft's configuration. It was noted that the pilot had relatively limited experience, with 49 total flying hours, all of which were on this specific type. The investigation focused on the sudden increase in descent rate and the subsequent structural failure of the landing gear.