Incident Overview
On June 17, 2011, at approximately 1640 Pacific daylight time, a DeHavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK 3, registration N260HC, experienced a hard landing on the runway of a private airstrip near Jefferson, Oregon. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The aircraft incurred substantial damage to one wing and the pontoon/landing gear.
Flight Details
The flight was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight by the pilot/owner. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that the runway is situated on a plateau.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot's account to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the approach was normal until short final, when the airplane encountered a thermal lift followed by a downdraft. This caused the airplane to drop. The pilot added power but reported insufficient time to arrest the sink rate before the aircraft contacted the runway hard.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.