Incident Overview
A commercial pilot, flying in preparation for his initial flight instructor check ride, conducted a 180-degree power-off approach and landing. During the landing flare, the pilot raised the nose of the airplane approximately 10 feet above the runway. The airplane then dropped and touched down hard. After the hard landing, the pilot took off again and attempted to retract the landing gear, but the gear would not fully retract. He subsequently lowered the landing gear, performed the maneuver one more time, and then taxied to the ramp.
Post-Flight Observations
After parking, the pilot and the flight instructor, who was seated in the left seat, attempted to exit the airplane but found that the door handle was broken, preventing the door from being opened from inside. A person outside the airplane opened the door from the exterior, allowing them to exit. Upon exiting, they observed damage to the airplane's right wing.
Examination Findings
A post-accident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing had sustained substantial damage.
Pilot Statement
During a post-accident interview, the flight instructor stated that the commercial pilot was the "full manipulator of the controls" during the flight and that "I did not do anything."