Accident Summary
On 23 May 2008 at 1610 UTC, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II (registration G-BGYH) sustained damage during a landing attempt at Full Sutton Airfield, Yorkshire. The aircraft, operated on a training flight, was on short final approach to Runway 04 when the right main landing gear detached after striking the lip at the beginning of the grass runway. The right wing and flap also received damage. No injuries were reported among the two crew and two passengers.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a 1979 Piper PA-28-161 powered by one Lycoming O-320-D3G engine. At the time of the landing, its calculated weight was 989 kg, which was 67 kg below the maximum allowable all-up weight. The flight crew consisted of a 34-year-old commander holding a Commercial Pilot’s Licence with 1,500 total flying hours (1,200 on type), and a 58-year-old student pilot with approximately 60 flying hours, all on the Cherokee Warrior II. The instructor was on board for the cross-country navigation exercise.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed from Full Sutton Airfield under fine weather conditions: surface temperature 16°C and estimated wind from 060° at 15 kt. Runway 04 was in use, a 772-m grass strip. On short final approach, the student pilot was flying. According to the instructor, the aircraft descended below the normal approach path at a late stage, and a downdraught of wind appeared to aggravate the situation. The instructor prompted the student to add power, but the student did not correct the descent. The instructor then took control and applied power, but could not arrest the descent rate. The right main landing gear subsequently struck the lip at the beginning of the runway, causing it to separate from the wing.
Damage and Aftermath
After the gear separation, the instructor shut down the engine and managed to keep the right wing from contacting the ground until the aircraft slowed to a very low speed, though the wing and flap still sustained some damage. The aircraft came to rest at the side of the runway, and all occupants vacated through the main right door. The airfield’s crash truck attended the scene; there was no fire and no reported injuries.