Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he had not flown an airplane during the previous 6 months and that he intended to acquire currency by performing a series of stop-and-go landings. The pilot took off and performed the first landing without mishap. According to the pilot, during the second approach he flared out too high. Thereafter, the airplane impacted the runway in a nose-low attitude and bounced. The second contact occurred while in a nose-low attitude. After the hard landing, the pilot taxied off the runway and parked his airplane. A subsequent structural examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear assembly was broken and the lower portion of the firewall was buckled.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he had not flown an airplane during the previous 6 months, and he intended to acquire currency by performing a series of stop-and-go landings. The pilot took off and performed the first landing without mishap. According to the pilot, during the second approach he flared out too high. Thereafter, the airplane impacted the runway in a nose low attitude and bounced. The second contact occurred while in a nose low attitude. After the hard landing, the pilot taxied off the runway and parked his airplane. A subsequent structural examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear assembly was broken, and the lower portion of the firewall was buckled.