Event Details
A certified flight instructor (CFI) was conducting a training flight with a student pilot, focusing on short field landings. According to the CFI, during the final short field landing, as the airplane flew over the runway numbers, it dropped and landed hard on the runway.
Pilot Accounts
The student pilot reported that the airplane was at 55 knots during short final. When the airplane began to descend, the student attempted to initiate a go-around but did not advance the throttle quickly enough. The airplane subsequently landed hard on the runway.
Aircraft Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found that the firewall was buckled. Both the CFI and the student pilot stated that there were no flight control malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.