Accident Overview
A private pilot and a flight instructor were conducting a takeoff in an airplane. According to the private pilot, after rotation, the nose pitched downward and the airplane bounced on the runway. The flight instructor then took control following the first bounce, and the airplane bounced several more times before coming to rest on its nose.
Pilot and Instructor Accounts
The private pilot reported that the flight instructor assumed control after the initial bounce. The flight instructor stated that pre-flight and pre-takeoff checks were completed, no airplane deficiencies were noted, and the elevator trim was set for takeoff. He added that he attempted to abort the takeoff after taking control. The airplane bounced violently four or five more times as he tried to stop it by retarding the throttle, applying up elevator for aerodynamic braking, and keeping the nosewheel off the ground.
Post-Accident Findings
Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that the elevator trim was in the full nose-down position. The nose landing gear had collapsed, and the firewall and fuselage sustained damage. The lower portion of the fuselage and firewall was pushed rearward into the pilot compartment, displacing the rudder pedals. Tests of the elevator trim system and the airplane's control system showed no anomalies that existed prior to the accident.
FAA Guidance on Bounced Landings
The Federal Aviation Administration publication FAA-H-8083-3A, "Airplane Flying Handbook," discusses recovery from a bounced landing. It states that corrective action depends on severity, and for slight bounces without extreme pitch changes, a follow-up landing may be executed with power and pitch adjustments.