Incident Overview
A pilot reported that, during a local flight, the carburetor heat control failed, prompting a return to the departure airport. The landing was not smooth; the airplane bounced two or three times. According to the pilot, on the last touchdown the nose gear collapsed, dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over before coming to rest inverted.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and reported that the nose landing gear failure appeared to be the result of a very hard landing. The inspector's assessment was based on the physical evidence observed at the scene.
Flight and Landing Sequence
The pilot had taken off for a local flight when the carburetor heat control malfunctioned. Deciding to return, the pilot executed a landing that resulted in multiple bounces. The final touchdown was particularly hard, leading to the collapse of the nose gear. The aircraft then pivoted forward, dug in with the nose, and flipped onto its back.
Damage and Final Position
The airplane came to rest inverted, indicating significant structural stress during the event. The nose gear failure was the primary mechanical issue identified, with the hard landing cited as the apparent cause by the FAA inspector.