Accident Overview
On June 13, 2011, at 1210 central daylight time, a Cessna model 172S airplane, registration N539ND, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Grand Forks International Airport (KGFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. The flight instructor and student were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the University of North Dakota under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was conducted without a flight plan. The local instructional flight had originated from KGFK at 1110.
Sequence of Events
The flight instructor reported that the student, who was obtaining instruction toward a flight instructor certificate and flying from the right seat, was practicing landings to runway 17R. The airplane touched down right of the runway centerline and began to bounce as the student attempted to realign with the centerline. The instructor stated that a wind gust was likely responsible for the initial bounce, but the airplane continued bouncing with escalating intensity. On the third or fourth bounce, the instructor assumed control to abort the landing. However, before establishing a climb, the airplane experienced an additional hard landing. The instructor regained control and landed without further incident.
Damage and Inspection
A postaccident inspection revealed substantial buckling to the firewall and displacement of the nose landing gear by 20-30 degrees forward. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
At 1153, the airport's automated surface observing system reported wind from 160 degrees at 22 knots, gusting to 27 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 2,300 feet above ground level (agl); broken ceilings at 11,000 and 25,000 feet agl; temperature 21°C; dew point 14°C; altimeter 29.87 inches of mercury. A peak wind of 29 knots from 180 degrees was recorded at 1203.