Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Turbulence on short final was a related factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said that on short final approach, the airplane encountered turbulence and that he held the airplane off the runway to allow airspeed to decrease. The airplane then bounced one time and landed hard.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 5, 1997, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N56676, received substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 26 (3,501' x 75' dry/asphalt) on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The private pilot told police he encountered windshear during the landing. The pilot and four passengers reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Jenison, Michigan, at 1030. The pilot said that the airplane encountered a "few bumps" on final approach. He said that he found the airplane was high over the runway; that he held the nose up and allowed the airspeed to decrease. He said that the airplane bounced once and then came down with a loud bang. An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies. -