What happened
The owner and pilot was conducting a multi-engine flight check with a designated flight examiner aboard. During an approach for a short field landing, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decay below the recommended approach speed. At approximately 50 feet above ground level (AGL), the examiner instructed the pilot not to reduce power because the aircraft was still slow. The pilot reduced the power to idle at about 30 feet AGL and pulled the control wheel all the way back. The examiner applied full power and attempted to push the control wheel forward, but the aircraft hit hard. The touchdown was made with the nose high and the brakes locked. The tires skidded about 12 feet before the left main landing gear failed. The aircraft went off the left side of the runway and came to rest about 500 to 600 feet from the initial touchdown point.
The investigation
The flight examiner reported that the pilot allowed airspeed to decay below recommended approach speed during a short field landing approach. At approximately 50 feet AGL, the examiner instructed the pilot not to reduce power because the aircraft was still slow. The pilot reduced power to idle at about 30 feet AGL and pulled the control wheel all the way back. The examiner applied full power and attempted to push the control wheel forward, but the aircraft hit hard. The touchdown was made with the nose high and the brakes locked. The tires skidded about 12 feet before the left main landing gear failed. The aircraft went off the left side of the runway and came to rest about 500 to 600 feet from the initial touchdown point.
Findings
The pilot allowed airspeed to decay below recommended approach speed during a short field landing approach. The pilot reduced power to idle at about 30 feet AGL and pulled the control wheel all the way back. The examiner applied full power and attempted to push the control wheel forward, but the aircraft hit hard. The touchdown was made with the nose high and the brakes locked. The tires skidded about 12 feet before the left main landing gear failed. The aircraft went off the left side of the runway and came to rest about 500 to 600 feet from the initial touchdown point.