Incident Overview
A solo student pilot reported that during the landing approach, while on short final, he observed a helicopter on the runway and initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the helicopter took off, and the pilot believed it was "heading directly for [the airplane]," which made him "very anxious." The helicopter departed without further incident, and the airplane re-entered the traffic pattern to land.
Second Landing Attempt
During the second landing attempt, immediately after touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear touched down hard, causing the aircraft to bounce "3 to 4 times." When the airplane touched down again, the nosewheel tire blew.
Instructor Observations
The flight instructor, who was watching from the fuel farm, noted that the student pilot did not flare the airplane during the landing.
Damage Assessment
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and truss. The inspector also stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.