Incident Summary
A pilot conducted a short flight under a ferry permit that required the landing gear to remain extended throughout the flight. During the flight, the aircraft encountered turbulence, leading the pilot to become concerned about the condition of the landing gear. Deciding to make a soft landing at the destination airport, the pilot reduced power as the aircraft approached the runway. The aircraft then descended rapidly, resulting in a hard landing. Upon touchdown, the right tire ruptured, and the right propeller made contact with the runway surface.
Sequence of Events
The pilot obtained a ferry permit that stipulated the landing gear must remain extended for the entire duration of the flight. After takeoff, the pilot proceeded on a short flight to the destination airport. En route, the aircraft experienced some turbulence. Concerned about the landing gear's condition, the pilot opted to perform a soft landing upon arrival. While over the runway, the pilot pulled back the power. Subsequently, the aircraft sank to the ground at a high rate of descent, leading to a hard landing.
Aircraft Damage
During the hard landing, the right tire blew out. Additionally, the right propeller struck the runway, which likely caused damage to both the propeller and potentially the engine components.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that his decision to make a soft landing was influenced by his concern over the landing gear condition following the encounter with turbulence. The pilot described pulling back the power while over the runway, which resulted in the aircraft dropping at a high rate.
Findings
The investigation found that the aircraft was operated under a ferry permit with the specific restriction that the landing gear remain extended. The hard landing resulted from the pilot's power reduction and subsequent high rate of descent. There was no indication of any mechanical malfunction before the incident.