Incident Overview
A pilot reported that the approach to landing was completely normal until the flare, when the aircraft's nose moved to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, which caused the nose to swing excessively to the right. The pilot was unable to straighten the aircraft before the main wheels contacted the runway.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft then hit the runway and bounced. Upon returning to the runway, it veered off the left side. Witnesses at the airport stated that the aircraft struck the runway very hard while in a crab (a sideward orientation relative to the runway).
Landing Gear Damage
Examination of the landing gear showed that the severity of the hard landing sheared the main gear strut attach bolts. This allowed the right main gear to rotate freely.
Pilot Experience
A review of the pilot's logbook revealed limited recent experience, with only two hours of flight time logged within the 90 days preceding the incident.