What happened
The aircraft was on final approach for a routine landing operation. As the pilot prepared for touchdown, a bird impacted the left side of the windscreen. The sudden impact startled the pilot, resulting in a momentary loss of situational awareness and control input. During this distraction, the aircraft bounced upon initial contact with the runway surface.
Following the first bounce, the pilot lost elevator control authority. This lack of pitch control led to a nose-low attitude as the aircraft descended again. The subsequent impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse. With the structural integrity of the front undercarriage compromised, the aircraft lost directional control and came to rest off the runway centerline.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage confirmed significant damage to the nose section of the aircraft. The nose landing gear was found collapsed, consistent with a hard impact following a bounce. Inspection of the windscreen revealed fracture patterns on the left side indicative of a bird strike. No mechanical failures were identified that would have contributed to the loss of elevator control prior to the impact.
Findings
The sequence of events was initiated by an external hazard rather than equipment failure. The pilot's reaction to the bird strike delayed appropriate corrective action for the bounce. The inability to maintain pitch control after the first bounce exacerbated the severity of the second touchdown. Bird strike during the critical phase of landing directly led to the structural failure of the nose gear.