Primary finding
Probable cause
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and porpoise.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting practice takeoffs and landings while remaining in the airport traffic pattern. During the third landing, with the student pilot at the flight controls, the nose wheel impacted the runway and the airplane porpoised. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, landed, and taxied off of the runway. After clearing the runway, the accident airplane received a transmission over the airport's common traffic advisory frequency that the propeller had impacted the runway during the porpoise. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and engine firewall.
Source record
Factual narrative
The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting practice takeoffs and landings while remaining in the airport traffic pattern. During the third landing, with the student pilot at the flight controls, the nose wheel impacted the runway and the airplane porpoised. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, landed, and taxied off of the runway. After clearing the runway, the accident airplane received a transmission over the airport's common traffic advisory frequency that the propeller had impacted the runway during the porpoise. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and engine firewall.