Hard Landing on Instructional Flight Results in Gear Collapse

Incident Overview

A flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, while the airplane was on short final approach, the prevailing headwind dissipated. This caused the airplane to slow and begin to sink. The instructor directed the pilot receiving instruction (seated in the front seat) to add power, but she did not complete the action immediately. Upon recognizing the delayed response, the flight instructor added full power himself. However, the airplane continued to descend at an accelerated rate and subsequently touched down hard upon landing.

Damage and Aftermath

The impact of the hard landing caused the main landing gear to collapse. The fuselage sustained substantial damage as a result. The flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation before or during the incident.