Accident
On 29 August 2009 at 1013 UTC, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BSLK, sustained damage during landing at Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight. The aircraft was conducting a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board. Neither the pilot nor the passenger was injured.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, manufactured in 1979. It was powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G piston engine. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 55 years old. His total flying experience was 143 hours, of which 63 hours were on type. In the last 90 days he had flown 11 hours, and in the last 28 days, 6 hours.
Sequence of Events
The flight originated from Wellesbourne Mountford and was uneventful until arrival at Sandown. The pilot made an overhead join for a right-hand circuit to Runway 23. The reported wind was 200° at 10 kt. On late final approach, the pilot considered that he was too high and decided to go around. He then flew a low-level circuit and made a second approach, which he considered normal. However, the aircraft touched down heavily and sooner than expected, before bouncing back into the air. The pilot decided to go around again, flew another low-level circuit, and landed without further incident.
Damage
After landing, inspection revealed that the nose landing gear leg and engine mounting brackets were bent, and scuff marks were present on the propeller tips.
Pilot's Considerations
The pilot considered that the heavy landing and subsequent bounce may have been due to a misjudgement in height resulting in a late flare, or that he had allowed the airspeed to reduce too much.
Investigation
This report is based on an Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) published this information in Bulletin 1/2010.