Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare while landing, resulting in a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Upon arrival at his destination after an instrument-flight-rules flight, the pilot was cleared for a very-high frequency omnidirectional radio range approach to runway 5. The pilot encountered visual conditions at 400 feet. He flared the airplane high and fast and the airplane touched down hard on the runway and bounced. The airplane touched back down on the runway and began to porpoise. The nosewheel then sheared off and the airplane continued down the runway until it came to a complete stop. Both wings were wrinkled to their wing root and the cabin area was buckled. The pilot stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane and that he simply "rounded out" too high and made a hard landing, resulting in the nose landing gear shearing off the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot stated he was conducting an instrument flight rules flight from Melbourne, Florida to Naples, Florida. Upon arrival at Naples, the pilot was cleared for a very-high frequency omnidirectional radio range approach to runway 5. The pilot encountered visual conditions at 400 feet. He flared the airplane high and fast and the airplane touched down hard on the runway and bounced. The airplane touched backed down on the runway and began to porpoise. The nose wheel sheared off and the airplane continued down the runway and came to a complete stop. Both wings were wrinkled to their wing root and the cabin area was buckled. The pilot stated there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. He simply rounded out too high, and made a hard landing, resulting in the nose landing gear shearing off the airplane.