Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear strut.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the landing flare for a full-stop landing, the airplane touched down hard, and bounced into the air. The student pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but the airplane's nose wheel hit the runway surface with sufficient force to collapse the nose gear strut and to damage the firewall.
Source record
Factual narrative
During the landing flare for a full-stop landing, the student pilot's lack of adequate pitch control resulted in the airplane entering a wheelbarrow type oscillation on the nose wheel. Because the student pilot was unable to correct the oscillation, the airplane's nose wheel hit the runway surface with sufficient force to collapse the nose gear strut and to damage the firewall.