Incident Overview
During a full-stop landing at an airport on the second leg of a multiple-leg cross-country flight, a student pilot landed the airplane. The aircraft bounced, then touched down again, impacting the nose landing gear with significant force. Subsequently, the student pilot lost directional control, and the airplane drifted toward the left side of the runway before coming to rest.
Damage Assessment
An examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane. The propeller had one blade with a bent tip, and the nose wheel landing gear tire was flat. Structural damage included a wrinkled cabin floor, wrinkled belly skin on the fuselage, and a buckled firewall.
Pilot Statement
The student pilot was uninjured in the incident and stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.