Incident Overview
During a training flight, a private pilot receiving instruction from a certified flight instructor (CFI) conducted a simulated engine failure shortly after takeoff. The maneuver resulted in a hard landing that caused substantial damage to the airplane.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's accident report, the aircraft was climbing at an airspeed between 63 and 65 knots (Vy) when the CFI reduced the throttle to simulate a loss of engine power. Upon noticing the power reduction, the pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and avoid a wing stall. Despite maintaining control, altitude was lost. The pilot attempted to flare before contacting the runway, but the landing was hard, and the aircraft came to a complete stop on the runway.
The CFI's report indicated that after a short field takeoff, the engine failure was simulated. The nose was pushed over immediately, but with insufficient airspeed, a high sink rate developed, leading to a hard landing.
Aircraft Condition
The CFI stated that no mechanical malfunctions affected the airplane during the flight. The wind was calm at the time of the incident.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the hard landing. No other property damage was reported.
Occupants
The flight was crewed by a private pilot and a CFI. No injuries were reported.
The accident investigation did not determine a probable cause for the hard landing. The event was attributed to the training exercise and the resulting high sink rate.