Incident Details
During a training flight involving stop-and-go landings on runway 24, the pilot reported that the aircraft was in a normal landing configuration at an airspeed of 68 mph and an altitude of approximately 8 feet above ground level. At that point, the aircraft encountered a downdraft, which the pilot attributed to wind blowing over trees located parallel to the left side of the runway.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft touched down in a three-point attitude. Upon touchdown, the wheels dug approximately 6 inches into the ground, causing damage to the cowling and windshield. The pilot further reported that the aircraft came down about 200 feet further down the runway in a 20-degree nose-low attitude.
Aircraft Condition
The observed damage was limited to the cowling and windshield as a result of the hard landing. No other damage was reported.