Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot reported that the airplane ballooned during the flare and then dropped hard onto the runway, resulting in a hard landing. The airplane bounced three times before the student pilot initiated a go-around and landed uneventfully. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical or system failure prior to the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that the airplane ballooned during the flare and then dropped hard onto the runway resulting in a hard landing. The airplane bounced three times before the student pilot initiated a go-around. The airplane was landed uneventfully. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical or system failure.