What happened
The pilot was conducting his second landing attempt during a first supervised solo flight. Conditions were favorable with calm winds and a runway measuring 2982 feet by 40 feet. During the approach, the aircraft bounced upon initial contact with the pavement. Following the bounce, the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. Both wingtips struck the ground before the main landing gear settled. The nose wheel subsequently broke off under the stress of the impact. The aircraft came to rest off the left side of the runway.
The investigation
The primary mechanical failure identified was the separation of the nose wheel assembly. This occurred after the structural loads from the bounce and subsequent drift exceeded the gear's design limits. No other significant mechanical anomalies were noted in the provided narrative.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's inability to maintain directional control following the bounce. The leftward drift resulted in wingtip contact with the surface. The severity of the bounce led directly to the nose gear failure. The calm wind conditions did not contribute to the incident.
Safety message
Proper technique for recovering from a bounced landing is critical to maintaining control and preventing structural damage.