Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II, registration G-BPOT, manufactured in 1977. It was powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A4M piston engine. The flight was a private ferry flight from Deanland Airfield, East Sussex, to Rochester Airport, following maintenance and an annual inspection. The pilot, aged 45, held a Private Pilot's Licence with 415 hours total flying experience (131 hours on type). The previous 90 days included 4 hours of flying, with 2 hours in the last 28 days. The pilot was the sole occupant and reported no injuries.
Location and Conditions
Deanland Airfield's runway 24 was in use at the time of the incident. The grass runway is 500 metres in length. The surface wind was from the south-west at 20 to 25 knots. The pilot described the ground conditions as very wet. The parallel taxiway was too soft for use, so the pilot backtracked along the runway. The runway is bounded on the northern side by a perimeter fence, which at the threshold end runs close alongside the runway. Additionally, there is a slope down towards the threshold.
Incident Sequence
As the pilot approached the end of the runway, he kept close to the fence in preparation for a right turn. He noted that he was using more power than usual for taxiing due to the wet conditions. When he attempted to turn the aircraft to the right, it continued moving straight ahead. Before he could prevent it, the port wingtip caught on a fence post, causing the aircraft to slew left and into the fence.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the leading edge, wingtip, and propeller.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot considered that the wet ground, combined with the local downslope and the strong wind, caused the aircraft to slide rather than turn. He also noted that turning to the right can be more difficult with the engine at a higher power setting.