Incident Overview
While executing an instrument approach, the aircraft descended out of clouds at 900 feet mean sea level (msl). As the pilot initiated the landing flare at an altitude of approximately 15 to 20 feet above the runway, a shudder was felt. The aircraft then dropped and touched down hard, resulting in the separation of the left main landing gear.
Sequence of Events
Following the hard touchdown, the left wing made contact with the ground. The aircraft subsequently skidded off the left side of the runway before coming to a stop. An FAA inspector reported that the pilot acknowledged making a mistake by allowing the airplane to become too slow while configured with approach flaps.
Pilot Statement
According to the FAA inspector, the pilot admitted to an error in airspeed management during the approach. Specifically, the pilot stated that the airplane was allowed to get too slow with the approach flaps selected, which likely contributed to the loss of lift during the flare and the subsequent hard landing.
Damage Assessment
The hard landing caused the left main landing gear to separate from the aircraft. Additionally, the left wing contacted the runway surface, resulting in further damage as the aircraft skidded to the left.