Incident Overview
On August 24, 2010, at approximately 1407 mountain standard time, a Grob-Werke G 120A (registration N865AF) operated by Airline Training Center, Goodyear, Arizona, experienced a hard bounced landing at Buckeye Municipal Airport in Buckeye, Arizona. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, who was performing his first solo instructional flight, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and originated from Buckeye about 1400.
Student Pilot Account
According to the student pilot, he had completed three landings with his flight instructor and was then authorized for his first solo flight. After takeoff, he performed a closed traffic pattern and attempted to land. The student stated that his first touchdown was relatively smooth; however, the airplane became airborne, and the second touchdown was "much firmer." On the third touchdown, described by the pilot as "very firm," the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. The nose wheel impacted the ground before the main landing gear, and the nose gear collapsed.
Aircraft Examination
An examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear assembly and several structural components in the composite fuselage were broken. For additional details regarding damage, see the report from Grob regarding its structural examination.