Accident Overview
A private pilot experienced a hard landing while attempting to land a wheel-ski equipped airplane on a remote frozen river. The pilot reported that he flared too high during the landing approach, which resulted in the aircraft touching down heavily. The impact caused the left main landing gear to collapse, leading to structural damage to the airplane's fuselage and the left main landing gear's gear box.
Cargo and Decision Making
The aircraft was carrying cargo that included a gasoline-powered ice auger. The pilot noted that the auger was leaking fuel. In response to the fuel leak, the pilot stated that he rushed his landing approach in order to get the airplane on the ground quickly and remove the auger from the aircraft.
Damage Assessment
The hard landing resulted in significant damage to the left side of the landing gear system. Specifically, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the gear box attached to the fuselage sustained structural damage. The extent of the damage necessitated repairs to the airframe.
Pilot Report
The pilot attributed the hard landing to flaring too high above the frozen river surface. No other factors or circumstances were reported in the official investigation source.