What happened
The accident occurred during the final phase of flight as the aircraft was attempting to land on runway 5. According to the pilot's report, the initial touchdown was firm, causing the airplane to bounce off the pavement. This impact initiated a porpoising motion, where the aircraft repeatedly bounced and pitched up and down. During this unstable sequence, the nosewheel landing gear collapsed aftward. The loss of nose support caused the airplane to pitch forward violently, resulting in a nosedown attitude as it slid along the ground until it came to a complete stop.
The investigation
Salvage personnel examined the wreckage following the incident. Their inspection revealed significant structural damage consistent with the reported nosedown slide. Specifically, the engine mount and the firewall were found to be bent. The pilot stated that there were no known mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to or during the accident sequence.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor was the hard landing which induced a porpoising condition. This dynamic load exceeded the structural limits of the nose landing gear, leading to its failure. The subsequent collapse caused the aircraft to nosedown and slide, resulting in the observed damage to the engine mount and firewall.