What happened
On October 12, 2011, a Cessna 172P, registration N52013, was conducting a training flight when the certified flight instructor initiated a simulated engine power failure. In response, the student pilot trimmed the aircraft for a glide speed of 65 knots and maneuvered toward a nearby grass runway.
During the final approach segment, while using twenty degrees of flaps, the student pilot entered a slip. The aircraft landed on the grass runway, but during the landing roll, the airplane struck a hole or an obstacle, causing the aircraft to bounce. The instructor applied power and aborted the landing. The aircraft then returned to the departure airport.
There were no injuries resulting from the event.
The investigation
Upon returning to the departure airport, the crew discovered skin deformation and structural damage to the aft fuselage. The operator reported that the damage included the aft bulkhead and the longerons. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified in the aircraft.