What happened
A dual student pilot was conducting practice sessions for wheel landings using a conventional gear aircraft. During one of the final landing attempts, the aircraft bounced upon touchdown. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) present in the right seat instructed the student to apply the brakes while the airplane was still bouncing. The student followed this instruction, which resulted in the nose of the aircraft pitching forward violently. The airplane subsequently nosed over onto its back.
The investigation
Post-accident examination confirmed the sequence of events described by the flight instructor. The primary mechanical failure mode was structural damage resulting from the nose-over impact. No pre-existing mechanical anomalies were identified that would have contributed to the accident. The aircraft's braking system functioned as designed, but the timing of its application during a dynamic bounce phase was critical.
Findings
The accident was primarily attributed to the inappropriate timing of brake application during a bounced landing. Applying brakes while the nose wheel is airborne or just touching down can cause the center of gravity to shift forward rapidly, leading to a nose-over. The Certified Flight Instructor had only 12 hours of total instructor time, with just 3 hours logged in the preceding 90 days. This limited recent experience may have contributed to the decision to instruct brake application during a bounce rather than allowing the aircraft to settle or performing a go-around.
Safety message
Pilots should avoid applying brakes during a bounced landing unless absolutely necessary to stop on a very short runway. The recommended procedure is typically to allow the aircraft to settle back down gently or to execute a go-around if the bounce is severe. Flight instructors must ensure that their recent experience and proficiency are sufficient to manage complex training scenarios safely.