What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight focused on practicing touch-and-go landings. The pilot reported that the aircraft encountered a strong gust of wind approximately 5 feet above ground level during the second landing attempt. This sudden aerodynamic disturbance caused the aircraft to bounce upon touchdown, which initially contacted the runway with the right main gear.
Following the bounce, the next landing was made on the nose gear rather than the main landing gear. As the aircraft skidded along the runway surface after this improper touchdown, the propeller struck the ground, resulting in significant damage to the propulsion system. The aircraft eventually came to a stop following this sequence of events.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the propeller was damaged due to contact with the runway surface. The investigation confirmed that the initial bounce was triggered by the wind gust, which led to the subsequent nose-gear landing and propeller strike. No mechanical failures were identified as contributing factors prior to the weather event.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the wind gust encountered during the final approach phase. The pilot's inability to maintain proper control and altitude after the bounce resulted in a nose-gear landing. This sequence of events highlights the risks associated with practicing touch-and-go landings in variable wind conditions without adequate correction techniques.