Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate bounced landing recovery technique, which resulted in porpoising during a downwind emergency landing. The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Tower personnel reported that the aircraft departed runway 31L and had reached 300 to 500 feet above ground level when the pilot radioed that he was experiencing engine difficulty. The pilot made a right 180-degree turn and was cleared to land on parallel runway 13L. The aircraft landed long on the runway and porpoised/bounced, collapsing the nosegear assembly. The aircraft came to rest upright at the departure end of runway 13L. The surface wind was northwesterly at 8 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 13, 1995, at 1451 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N73601, collapsed the nose gear assembly during a forced landing on runway 13L at Palm Springs Regional Airport, Palm Springs, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, local area flight, and no flight plan was filed. Personnel from the Palm Springs Air Traffic Control Tower reported that the aircraft departed runway 31L and had reached 300 to 500 feet above ground level when the pilot radioed that he was experiencing "engine difficulty." The pilot made a right 180-degree turn and was cleared to land on parallel runway 13L. The aircraft landed long on the runway and porpoised/bounced, collapsing the nose gear assembly. The aircraft came to rest upright at the departure end of runway 13L. The surface wind was northwesterly at 8 knots. -