What happened
On February 23, 2010, a Cessna 172P, registration N88EP, was being operated by Ari Ben Aviator Inc for a local solo flight in the traffic pattern near Fort Pierce, FL. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 9 statute miles and winds from 060 degrees at 9 knots.
During the landing sequence, the approach was reported as normal. However, the student pilot performed a late flare, resulting in a hard landing on the nosewheel. This caused the aircraft to bounce multiple times, leading to substantial damage to the firewall. There were no injuries resulting from the event.