Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during the final approach he increased the airplane’s airspeed from 65 to 70 mph to compensate for light windshear. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced twice, and the pilot increased engine power slightly to allow the airplane to settle on the main landing gear. After it settled, the nose landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the firewall. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway. The pilot surmised that the second bounce must have separated the nose landing gear. A witness to the accident, who was a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, stated that the nose landing gear touched down first, followed by bounces with two or three more nosegear touchdowns, before the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest. The recorded wind at the airport about the time of the accident indicated a left crosswind at 8 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during final approach, he increased airspeed from 65 to 70 mph to compensate for light windshear. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced twice and he increased engine power slightly to allow the airplane to settle on the main landing gear. After it settled, the nosewheel collapsed substantially damaging the firewall. The airplane then came to rest upright on the runway. The pilot surmised that the second bounce must have separated the nosewheel. A witness to the accident, who was also a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, stated that the nosegear touched down first, followed by bounces with two or three more nosegear touchdowns, before the nosewheel collapsed and the airplane came to rest. The recorded wind at the airport about the time of the accident was a left crosswind at 8 knots.