Hard Landing During Short Field Practice Results in Bent Firewall

Incident Overview

During a training flight, a student pilot was practicing short field landings. The pilot configured the airplane with full flaps on the approach. According to the student pilot, power was reduced too early for the airplane configuration, resulting in a loss of airspeed and a subsequent hard landing.

Maintenance Findings

During the annual maintenance that followed, a mechanic observed that the firewall was bent. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Pilot Statement

The student pilot stated that the hard landing occurred due to the premature power reduction while the flaps were fully extended.