Accident Details
On 31 July 2009 at 1325 UTC, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-ASIJ, was involved in an accident during landing at Andrewsfield Airfield in Stebbing, Essex. The flight was a private flight with only the pilot on board. The pilot reported no injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing tip, lower engine cowling, nosewheel, and propeller.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a 1963 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A3A piston engine. The pilot, aged 52, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 102 total flying hours, with 27 hours on type. In the last 90 days, the pilot had flown 10 hours, and in the last 28 days, 3 hours.
Weather Conditions
The pilot reported good weather but noted that the wind was variable in direction. The wind at the airfield was recorded from 210° at 8 knots, 35 minutes before the accident, and from 170° at 7 knots, 25 minutes after the accident.
Pilot's Report
The pilot departed from Runway 09 and on return, the wind favoured Runway 27. During the landing on Runway 27 (grass), the aircraft bounced and the left wing rose. Subsequently, the left wing dropped and the left wing tip struck the ground. The nose gear also struck the ground heavily before the aircraft came to rest. The pilot assessed that the accident might have been initiated by a sudden gust of wind. The pilot also noted that a line of trees along the south side of the runway could, in some circumstances, cause a disturbance of the wind.