Incident Details
During the initial touchdown, the pilot experienced what he described as a "bad bounce." On the third bounce, the nose wheel failed, and the propeller struck the ground. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's firewall. Other damage was not specified in the report.
Pilot Report
The pilot noted that the landing sequence involved multiple bounces. After the third bounce, the nose wheel gave way, leading to the propeller impact. The pilot did not report any issues with the aircraft's systems or controls before the event.
Background on Porpoising
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B, 2016) discusses porpoising in landings. It states that an improperly recovered bounced landing can initiate a series of motions resembling porpoise jumps and dives. The handbook attributes the problem to improper aircraft attitude at touchdown, sometimes caused by inattention, misjudging runway proximity, improper trimming, or forcing the aircraft onto the runway. Ground effect can reduce elevator control effectiveness, requiring increased effort to raise the nose. Insufficient elevator or stabilator trim may result in a nose-low runway contact and subsequent porpoising. Additionally, improper airspeed control, such as an excessively fast approach leading to floating, can contribute to porpoising when the pilot forces the aircraft onto the runway while it still has lift. Gusts, runway bumps, or slight control inputs can cause the aircraft to become airborne again.