Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nosewheel collapse.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, while on final approach to the runway, he noticed that the airplane was high, and performed a forward slip to lose altitude. The pilot recovered from the slip about 75 to 100 ft above ground level and when the airplane landed without the stall horn sounding, the nosewheel collapsed and the propeller impacted the runway surface. The pilot pulled back on the control stick and the airplane became airborne 4 to 5 ft. The stall horn sounded, and the airplane touched down again coming to rest to the right of runway centerline. The fuselage and engine mount were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.