Accident Overview
On 5 July 1999 at approximately 1410 UTC, a Piper PA-28-180 (registration G-ATHR) sustained substantial damage to its nose landing gear and propeller during a landing at Henlow Airfield in Bedfordshire. The aircraft, powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A4A piston engine and manufactured in 1965, was being flown by a 57-year-old student pilot on his first solo flight. There were no passengers on board, and the pilot reported no injuries.
Flight Details
The pilot, who had accumulated 42 hours of flying experience (41 hours on type, with 12 hours in the last 90 days and 7 hours in the last 28 days), was conducting the flight under private training operations. The weather conditions were described as good, with a surface wind of less than 5 knots. The approach and landing pattern—downwind, base leg, and final approach—were flown without incident.
Landing and Damage
During the landing, the aircraft bounced and adopted a nose-down attitude, which was not corrected before the subsequent touchdown. After landing, the pilot taxied the aircraft cautiously to the control tower. A post-flight examination revealed substantial damage to the nose landing gear and propeller, with evidence of shock loading to the engine.
Investigation
The incident was reported by the pilot via an Aircraft Accident Report Form. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) classified the occurrence under Category 1.3 and assigned reference EW/G99/07/07. No probable cause was stated in the official report.