LAX96LA033

the pilot's misjudgement of the height above touchdown and his premature flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

The pilot was making touch-and-go landings and said that on his last approach he came in a little fast. He flared at about 5 feet above the runway and the aircraft bounced on touchdown. He recovered from the bounced landing but when he touched down again, the main gear collapsed. The aircraft impacted the runway and then slid off the left side. An inspection revealed that the shear bolts holding the main gear down locks had separated.

On October 29, 1995, at 1235 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Russell, KR-2, N14MR, collided with the runway while landing at Southern California International Airport, Adelanto, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Adelanto at 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he had been in the traffic pattern making touch-and-go landings on runway 21. On his last approach he said he was "a little fast" and flared at about 5 feet above the runway and then bounced when the aircraft touched down. He recovered from the bounced landing and landed. During the second touchdown the main gear collapsed and the aircraft impacted the runway. According to a witness, the aircraft took off on runway 21 and remained in the traffic pattern. The aircraft touched down about midfield, at which time the main gear collapsed and the aircraft slid off the left side of the runway. An FAA airworthiness inspector reported that the aircraft sustained damage to the main wings, propeller, carburetor and air box, engine cowling, and main gear shear joints. The inspection revealed that the shear bolts holding the main gear down locks had separated. -