Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that she was practicing touch-and-go landings when the accident occurred. During her first touch-and-go, the airplane bounced after a hard landing. She attempted to correct for the bounced landing, but the airplane’s nose landing gear impacted the runway before the main landing gear. The airplane stabilized onto all three landing gear and she proceeded with the next takeoff. No anomalies were experienced with the two subsequent landings. A postflight inspection of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage floor structure. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that she was practicing touch-and-go landings when the accident occurred. During her first touch-and-go, the airplane bounced after a hard landing. She attempted to correct for the bounced landing, but the airplane’s nose landing gear impacted the runway before the main landing gear. The airplane stabilized onto all three landing gear and she proceeded with the next takeoff. No anomalies were experienced with the two subsequent landings. A postflight inspection of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage floor structure. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.