Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a subsequent bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The helicopter-rated private pilot was receiving instruction to add an airplane single engine land rating to his license, and had logged 38 hours in fixed wing aircraft. On his second touch-and-go landing approach he intended to perform a short field landing. The pilot flared too high causing the airplane to bounce, and then lowered the nose of the aircraft to arrest the bounce. On the second bounce the aircraft landed hard on the nose wheel, collapsing the nose wheel, and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 23, 1996, at 1400 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N6096Q, collapsed the nose wheel and nosed over during landing at Redlands Municipal Airport, Redlands, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight which departed Redlands at 1300. The helicopter-rated private pilot reported that he was receiving instruction to add an airplane single engine land rating to his license. He had received 24 hours of dual instruction and 14 hours of solo flight time in fixed wing aircraft prior to the accident. After practicing maneuvers in the accident aircraft, he returned to the airport and entered the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. On his second landing approach he intended to perform a short field landing; however, his approach was high to runway 26 (4,505 feet long by 75 feet wide). The pilot flared high, causing the airplane to bounce, and then lowered the nose to arrest the bounce. On the second bounce the aircraft landed hard on the nose wheel. The nose wheel collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. The aircraft came to rest on its back about 2,500 feet from the runway threshold. -