Incident Overview
A student pilot reported that during his third supervised solo landing, the airplane touched down hard in a level attitude and bounced. According to the pilot, the airplane bounced three times before the nose wheel collapsed.
Post-Accident Examination
A mechanic's post-accident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.
Instructor Observations
The student pilot's instructor, observing from the airport control tower, reported that he saw the student touch down fast, bounce the airplane three times, and then the nose landing gear collapsed.
Mechanical Status
The student pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.