Incident Details
A commercial pilot was practicing short field landings from the right seat on a 7,498-foot-long by 100-foot-wide asphalt runway. According to the pilot, while at an altitude of 10 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered a thermal and subsequently stalled. The pilot reported that the airplane contacted the runway harder than expected, resulting in two bounces. After the second bounce, the pilot added throttle and initiated a go-around. The aircraft was then landed safely.
Post-Flight Inspection
Following the landing, the pilot and personnel from the fixed-base operator (FBO) conducted a visual inspection of the aircraft. No damage was observed during this inspection.
Maintenance Discovery
During subsequent routine maintenance, a mechanic discovered substantial damage to the aircraft's firewall. The mechanic notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the findings.