CESSNA 172S near Fort Lauderdale, FL — 2013-08-29

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to apply power to go-around following a bounced landing resulting in abnormal runway contact and collapse of the nose landing gear.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot had flown with her instructor earlier that day and successfully performed about 5 takeoff’s and landings which included 1 go-around. She was then signed off for her first solo flight, and instructed to perform full stop taxi back landings. The student pilot stated that the flight departed and remained in the traffic pattern where on final approach she recognized the airplane was low. She applied power to level off, and noticed the airspeed was increasing so she, “…jerked the control stick.” The airplane contacted the runway, bounced, where she applied aft control, and was about to apply power but the airplane contacted the runway again causing the nose landing gear to collapse. The student pilot’s certified flight instructor who was watching and listening on a portable VHF transceiver reported observing the airplane bounce twice, and the second bounce was higher than the first. He then lost sight of the airplane and heard the student pilot’s voice on the radio, followed by a comment from the controller that help was on the way. The operator reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction, and postaccident inspection of the flight controls by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Loss of control

First missed decision gate

Recognizing low altitude and not executing a go-around.

NTSB coding

• Abnormal runway contact · Landing-flare/touchdown

Evidence available

• Photos
• 6 docket documents

Docket documents6

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• FAA Inspector Statementinterview
• Statement from Student Pilotinterview
• Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by Operator. View Depicts the Damage to the Firewall.photos
• Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by Operator. View Depicts Interior Structural Damage Following Removal of the Lower Portion of the Firewall.photos
• Weather Reports and Recordsreport

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