What happened
On 13 July 2011, a Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow, registration G-AYAC, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Old Buckenman Airfield, Norfolk. The flight originated from Knettishal, where the pilot had discovered that the nose landing gear was inoperative while the aircraft was in its hangar. After using a tow bar to move the aircraft out of the hangar, the pilot decided to divert to Old Buckenham.
Upon arrival at Old Buckenham, a visual inspection was performed, but the nose landing gear was not visible from the ground. During the takeoff roll on Runway 02, the pilot experienced a loud bang and a physical kick through the rudder pedals at the moment of rotation. Although the pilot attempted to raise the landing gear and retract the flaps, the landing gear unsafe warning light remained illuminated. The aircraft subsequently landed on its main gear with the nose gear not lowered, resulting in damage to the propeller and the lower engine cowling. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the pre-flight movements. It was established that the tow bar had been inadvertently left attached to the aircraft's nosewheel following its removal from the hangar at Knettishal. This attachment was not identified during the subsequent visual inspection at the diversion airfield.