What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was conducting a practice touch-and-go landing. Upon initial contact with the runway, the aircraft bounced. This bounce sequence continued for three distinct impacts before the pilot recognized the need to abort the landing and applied full power in an attempt to recover.
Following the application of power, the airplane drifted laterally to the left side of the runway. As it moved off the paved surface, the left wing dropped significantly and struck the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to spin to the left, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear system. The airplane eventually came to a stop off the side of the runway.
The investigation
The physical examination of the aircraft revealed damage consistent with the described sequence of events. The primary structural damage was located on the left wing and the landing gear assembly. The collapse of the landing gear was attributed to the force of the impact after the wing struck the ground during the excursion.
Findings
The investigation determined that the loss of control during the recovery phase was the critical factor. The pilot's decision to apply full power after multiple bounces did not prevent the lateral drift. The subsequent left wing strike and gear collapse were direct consequences of the aircraft leaving the runway surface.
Safety message
Pilots practicing touch-and-go landings must be vigilant for bounce conditions. If a bounce occurs, immediate and decisive action is required to avoid losing directional control or striking obstacles off the runway.