Incident Overview
A pilot flying an airplane from the front seat reported that the airplane owner, also a pilot, was seated in the rear. The front-seat pilot turned final early to maintain aircraft separation, resulting in a short and slightly steep final approach. She stated that she flared the airplane a little high, causing it to bounce twice during the landing.
Sequence of Events
During the second bounce, the pilot in the rear seat assisted the recovery by applying corrective control inputs. The front-seat pilot could not recall whether she continued to apply control inputs or if the rear-seat pilot had assumed control. According to the report, positive control transfer was not accomplished between the two pilots.
Outcome and Damage
Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left wing tip struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Statements
The front-seat pilot provided the account of the landing and the events leading to the ground loop. She noted that she initiated the turn to final early to ensure separation from other traffic. The rear-seat pilot's intervention during the bounce was described as assistance, but the lack of a clear control transfer contributed to the loss of directional control.