Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, during a time-building solo flight, he turned from the base to the final leg in the traffic pattern and determined that the airplane's altitude was too high. He pitched the nose down and reduced engine power. During the landing flare, the airplane remained in ground effect and ballooned. The pilot corrected by pushing forward on the yoke, and the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced multiple times, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to a stop on the runway and came to rest on the lower fuselage and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during a time-building solo flight, he turned from base to final in the traffic pattern and determined that the airplane's altitude was high. He pitched the nose down, and reduced engine power. During the landing flare, the airplane remained in ground effect and ballooned. The pilot corrected by pushing forward on the yoke, and the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced multiple times before the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to a stop on the runway and came to rest on the lower fuselage and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.