Circumstances
The pilot departed from Île d'Yeu airfield at approximately 10:30 with a passenger, destined for Le Mans Arnage airfield. About 15 minutes before the estimated landing time, he monitored the destination's self-information frequency. Using the Automatic Parameter Transmission System (STAP), he obtained weather information indicating wind direction variable between 140° and 230° at 4 knots. Observing a preceding aircraft land on runway 02, the pilot decided to land on the same runway.
On the downwind leg, he extended the landing gear and flaps. During final approach, he maintained approximately 75 knots and deployed full flaps. After crossing the runway threshold at about 2 meters height, he initiated the flare. At that moment, he felt the aircraft sink and added power. The aircraft contacted the ground, rebounded, the rear propeller struck the runway, and the right landing gear leg bent. The pilot then landed. The nose tire burst, and the front propeller struck the ground.
Weather conditions at 11:00 indicated a prevailing wind from 180° at 3 knots, variable between 130° and 230°.
The pilot held a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by United States authorities in May 2010. At the time of the accident, his flight experience totaled approximately 500 hours on airplanes, including 180 hours on the Cessna P337, 13 hours in the preceding three months, and 1 hour 20 minutes in the previous month, all on type.
Consequences and Damage
The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
Conclusion
The investigation concluded that the hard landing was probably due to insufficient control of parameters during the flare.