What happened
On 31 July 2009, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-ASIJ, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Andrewsfield Airfield in Essex. The pilot had departed from Runway 09 and was returning to the airfield, noting that the wind direction had shifted to favour Runway 27.
During the landing attempt on the grass runway, the aircraft bounced, causing the left wing to rise. This was followed by the left wing dropping, which resulted in the wingtip striking the ground. The impact also caused the nosewheel to strike the ground with significant force before the aircraft came to a halt. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation examined the environmental conditions and the sequence of the landing. At the time of the accident, the wind was recorded as 210° at 8 kt, having been 170° at 7 kt approximately 25 minutes earlier. The pilot noted that a line of trees situated along the south side of the runway could potentially cause wind disturbances. The pilot also assessed that the accident may have been triggered by a sudden gust of wind.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing tip, the lower engine cowling, the propeller, and the nosewheel.
- A sudden gust of wind was identified as a potential initiator of the accident sequence.