Incident Details
A pilot on his third solo flight reported a hard landing incident during approach to a runway. The aircraft was configured with 20 degrees of flaps and traveling at 65 knots when the pilot initiated the landing flare at an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 feet. According to the pilot, the airplane then appeared to lose lift and contacted the runway firmly.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced into the air and traveled about 30 feet before the nose began to pitch downward again. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent by pulling back on the control yoke. Although the airplane responded to the control input, it struck the ground in a nose-down attitude.
Damage Assessment
The impact caused the nose landing gear strut and wheel to collapse into the fuselage. The aircraft then skidded on its nose for approximately 20 yards. Substantial damage was sustained to the forward left fuselage section, the firewall, and the propeller.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.