Flight History
On 17 November 2007 at 1025 UTC, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BODC, was conducting a training flight at Sherburn-in-Elmet Airfield, Yorkshire. The aircraft, with a crew of two and no passengers, weighed 960 kg. The instructor was demonstrating a short field approach and landing onto the asphalt Runway 29. Weather conditions were good with a surface wind estimated from 250° at 11 kt. The approach was flown with the aircraft heading offset to the left to compensate for the crosswind.
During the last 300 ft of the approach, the instructor reduced the airspeed to approximately 55 kt, at which speed the stall warning horn activated. Just prior to touchdown, the aircraft encountered windshear and the rate of descent increased. The pilot eased the control column back but there was little elevator authority remaining, and the aircraft landed heavily on all three wheels, facing to the left of the runway heading. The aircraft was brought to a halt, but the pilot experienced some difficulty in steering and the nose appeared lower than normal. He radioed for assistance and shut down the engine.
Damage and Aftermath
An inspection revealed that the nosewheel tyre had burst, causing damage to the nosewheel assembly and the engine frame. No injuries were reported among the crew.
Comment
The pilots' operating handbook for the PA-28-161 specifies that the initial approach speed should be about 70 kt, with a final approach speed of 63 kt. During the landing flare, the speed should be reduced to the minimum possible safe speed consistent with existing conditions. A graph in the handbook provides the best approach speed and stalling speed for various weights; at 960 kg, the recommended approach speed, to be maintained until the flare, is 62 kt. In this occurrence, the approach speed was reduced to 55 kt during the final 300 ft, prior to the flare.
The aircraft was a 1988 model, powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G piston engine. The commander, aged 25, held a Commercial Pilot's Licence and had 746 total flying hours, of which 430 were on type.