Incident Overview
A pilot and a passenger holding a student pilot certificate were involved in a landing accident that resulted in structural damage to the aircraft. According to the pilot, he occupied the right seat while the passenger/student pilot, seated in the left seat, was flying the airplane during the approach and landing.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that the passenger/student pilot maintained an excessive airspeed on final approach. During the initial touchdown, the airplane bounced. Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, causing damage to the nose gear, propeller, and firewall. After a second bounce, the passenger/student pilot requested that the pilot take control. The pilot reported that he then completed the landing and brought the airplane to a stop on the parallel taxiway.
Conflicting Accounts
The passenger/student pilot, who is the daughter of the individual who owns the company to which the airplane is registered, denied flying the airplane at any time during the approach and landing. She held a valid student pilot certificate with approximately 45 hours of dual instruction but had not been endorsed for solo flight privileges.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in damage to the nose gear, propeller, and firewall of the aircraft.