Incident Summary
After completing an uneventful IFR flight to his destination airport, the pilot set up for a visual left downwind approach. The initial flare and touchdown were smooth at 85 knots. Subsequently, the airplane floated and bounced twice, causing the nose gear to collapse. The airplane came to rest approximately halfway down the runway.
Damage and Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear had separated from the aircraft, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. No other damage was reported.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that he should have reduced speed to approximately 70–75 knots for touchdown to avoid floating and the subsequent bounced landing. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he is a corporate jet pilot and flies light reciprocating-engine aircraft only a few times per year. He noted that in corporate jet operations, final approach speeds are precisely computed and executed, whereas in light airplanes, approach speeds are typically determined by a speed range based on wind conditions and gross weight. The pilot attributed his higher-than-optimal approach speed to a lack of recent experience in flying light airplanes, having not flown one in the six months prior to this event.
Investigation Findings
The NTSB investigation focused on the pilot's operational history and the circumstances of the landing. No further causal factors were identified in the source material.