What happened
The pilot was initially cleared to land on runway 32, but air traffic control changed the clearance to runway 22. The pilot was also instructed to maintain speed during the approach. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the airspeed indicator showed 89 knots. The pilot elected to continue the landing rather than go around, resulting in a touchdown further down the runway than intended.
After initial contact with the pavement, the aircraft began porpoising. This oscillation caused significant stress on the landing gear and propulsion system. Despite the damage, the pilot retained control of the aircraft and was able to taxi it safely to the fixed-base operator (FBO) for inspection.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the nose gear and propeller were damaged as a result of the porpoising motion during the landing roll. No other structural damage was noted in the provided account. The pilot reported that the airspeed was low at the decision point for the landing.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the pilot's decision to land long with an airspeed of 89 knots at 200 feet, which led to a hard or unstable touchdown and subsequent porpoising. The pilot exercised good judgment by taxiing the aircraft to the FBO rather than attempting to fly it further.