Incident Overview
During a landing approach, the pilot deployed full flaps, a configuration he typically did not use. He believed that the full flaps resulted in an excessive descent rate during the approach. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced several times. After exiting the runway, the pilot found it difficult to taxi the airplane.
Post-Landing Findings
A post-landing inspection conducted by the pilot revealed structural damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that prior to the landing, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot's account suggests that the unusual use of full flaps may have contributed to the approach characteristics, but no official determination of cause has been made. The aircraft sustained damage as a result of the hard landing sequence.