Accident Details
On 13 July 2011 at 1219 UTC, a Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow, registration G-AYAC, was involved in an accident at Old Buckenham Airfield, Norfolk. The aircraft was manufactured in 1969 and powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-C1C piston engine. The flight was a private operation with only the pilot on board; no passengers were carried.
Pre-flight Actions
The pilot reported that he completed an external check of the aircraft while it was in its hangar at Knettishal. He then pulled the aircraft out of the hangar using a tow bar attached to the nosewheel. Afterward, the pilot boarded the aircraft having inadvertently left the tow bar still attached to the nosewheel.
Takeoff and Initial Climb
The takeoff run appeared normal until rotation, at which point the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a kick through the rudder pedals. He raised the landing gear and retracted the flaps, but the landing gear UNSAFE warning light remained illuminated. The pilot then discovered that the nose landing gear was inoperative and initiated a diversion to Old Buckenham Airfield, about 20 nm south-west of Norwich.
Diversion and Landing
On arrival at Old Buckenham, a visual inspection confirmed that the nose landing gear was not visible. The aircraft landed on Runway 02 on its main landing gear with the nose leg not lowered, causing damage to the propeller and lower engine cowling. Emergency services were on hand. The pilot, who was uninjured, vacated the aircraft through the cockpit door. The tow bar remained attached to the aircraft throughout.
Pilot Information
The commander, aged 58, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had a total flying experience of 150 hours, of which 27 were on type. In the last 90 days he had flown 16 hours, and in the last 28 days, 1.4 hours.