Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to attain a proper landing attitude, and his failure to recover from the porpoise.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that as he turned on final approach to the runway, he 'noticed turbulence and gusty crosswinds.' The pilot said that he was 'busy correcting for the crosswind and didn't flare enough.' The airplane 'porpoised, damaging the propeller and nose gear.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 4, 1996, at 1250 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 177B, N34798, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when during landing the airplane porpoised. The airplane subsequently impacted on the runway. Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated at Goderich, Ontario, at 1150 edt, and was en route to Drummond Island, Michigan. The pilot stated that as he turned on final approach to the runway, he "noticed turbulence and gusty crosswinds." The pilot said that he was "busy correcting for the crosswind and didn't flare enough." The airplane "porpoised, damaging the propeller and nose gear." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane at Drummond Island Airport, found the nose gear broken upward into the cowling. A large buckle was observed in the forward cabin bulkhead behind the firewall. The metal attaching the firewall to the forward bulkhead was bent inward. The cabin frame was bent aft. Longitudinal skin wrinkling was observed along the fuselage in the area forward of the cabin doors and aft of the firewall. Both propeller blades showed curling at the tips. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The engine, engine controls and other airplane systems showed no anomalies. -