Accident Sequence
On July 2, 2011, at approximately 1430 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301 (registration N8319N) operated by a private pilot was substantially damaged during landing at Bowman Field Airport (LOU) in Louisville, Kentucky. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The airplane was on approach to runway 24, which is 4,326 feet long and 75 feet wide, with an asphalt surface. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that the airplane was high on approach and utilized a steep descent. The airplane touched down on the runway, bounced, and the left landing gear collapsed. The airplane then veered off the left side of the runway, struck a taxiway sign, and sustained substantial damage to its fuselage and both wings.
Pilot Statements
When interviewed by an FAA inspector after the accident, the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. In a later written statement, the pilot stated that he performed a rapid turn and descent to the runway after being cleared for a left base to final approach. He further reported that the engine did not respond to a throttle control input after the airplane bounced, and he was not certain if any mechanical malfunctions occurred.
Aircraft Examination
The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-540 series engine producing 300 horsepower. Subsequent examination by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical abnormalities. The engine was rotated by hand via the propeller, which remained attached and displayed curled tips on both blades. Thumb compression was attained on all cylinders, and spark was observed at all spark plug ignition leads. Examination of the throttle and mixture controls did not reveal any discrepancies, and fuel flow was observed from all fuel injector lines when the boost pump was activated.
The airplane had been operated for about 20 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on February 24, 2011.
Pilot Experience
The pilot reported a total flight experience of 3,800 hours, including 3,600 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.