Flight Background
On 16 January 2004, a student pilot conducted a solo flight in a Cessna 172S Skyhawk, registration G-UFCG, at Newtownards Airfield, Northern Ireland. Earlier that morning, the student had completed two dual flights with an instructor. The first dual flight lasted over an hour and included circuit work, crosswind landings, and glide approaches. After a 30-minute break, the second dual flight consisted of two standard circuits. The instructor then cleared the student for his first solo flight in this aircraft type. The student had approximately 10 hours of solo experience on Piper PA-28 aircraft.
The Incident
Runway 34 was in use, with a surface wind reported as 330°–350° at 8 knots. The first circuit, including landing and go-around, was uneventful. The subsequent circuit and final approach were also normal. However, as the pilot flared the aircraft prior to landing, it sank heavily onto the runway and bounced into the air. Three or four additional bounces occurred before the pilot regained control and brought the aircraft to a halt.
Damage and Observation
The instructor, who was observing the flight, noted that one of the bounces resulted in a heavy nose-wheel contact with the runway. This contact caused a crease in the engine firewall, to which the nose landing gear is attached, along with associated wrinkling in the skin on the underside of the forward fuselage. Damage also affected the tail of the aircraft.
Pilot's Comments
The pilot attributed the incident to his inexperience and his overreaction to the initial bounce.