Accident Details
On March 24, 2011, at 13:14 local time, a Cessna 172S (registration JA33UK) operated by Honda Airways Co., Ltd. was damaged during a landing on runway 07 at Kumamoto Airport. The student pilot on board, who was flying solo, suffered no injury. No fire broke out.
The flight originated from Kumamoto Airport at 12:24 for a solo training flight in the KS1-3 training area. After returning, the pilot entered the base leg and set flaps full down on mid-final at 75 kt. Runway threshold airspeed was 71 kt. The pilot retarded the throttle to idle for touchdown, but the airplane sank suddenly, landed harder, and bounced high. During the subsequent bounces, the pilot executed a go-around due to a nose-low attitude. The pilot reported a blacked-out primary flight display (PFD) and unusual engine or propeller sounds and vibrations. The PFD later recovered, and the pilot landed at 13:19. Post-flight inspection revealed bent propeller blade tips.
Aircraft and Personnel
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 172S, registration JA33UK, built by Cessna Aircraft Company. It sustained substantial damage: the fuselage and propeller were damaged.
The student pilot, aged 21, held a flight training certificate and had logged 32 hours 15 minutes total flight time, including 1 hour 30 minutes solo. The flight instructor in charge (FIIC) and the flight instructor of the day (FIOD) had provided training and granted the student permission for solo flight after evaluating his landing skills.
Probable Cause
The Japan Transport Safety Board determined that it is very likely that the airplane bounced upon landing followed by a nose-low hard contact with the runway, resulting in damage to the propeller blades and fuselage structure. The student pilot’s possible pushing of the control wheel or failure to apply back elevator pressure resulted in the nose-low contact with the runway upon the second settling.