What happened
On 3 March 2012, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration G-BRSJ, was conducting a private flight when it attempted to land at Swansea Airport. During the approach, the pilot elected to land from an altitude of approximately 30 to 40 feet above the ground.
Upon touchdown on Runway 22, the nosewheel of the aircraft collapsed. Following the collapse, the aircraft slid along the runway until it came to a halt. At the time of the incident, the wind was recorded at 220° at 15 to 20 knots. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft suffered extensive damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the environmental conditions. The pilot reported that the landing was misjudged, which contributed to the sequence of events leading to the structural failure of the nosewheel assembly. The investigation also noted that the pilot found the aircraft difficult to control due to the gusty wind conditions present during the flight.