Factual Information
On Friday, July 27, 2001, at 15:40 local time, a Piper PA28-161 Warrior II, registration EC-DHN, was involved in a landing accident at Tenerife Norte Airport (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). The aircraft was powered by a single Textron Lycoming O-320-D3G engine. The sole occupant was a 19-year-old student pilot holding a student pilot license, with a total of 34 flight hours, all on the same type. The flight was a local visual flight rules (VFR) operation for the purpose of instruction, specifically the pilot's first solo flight.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft departed Tenerife Norte for a local VFR flight. The flight proceeded without incidents until the landing maneuver. During the landing, the aircraft's nose-low attitude resulted in a hard touchdown with the runway. This hard initial contact caused the aircraft to bounce. It then descended for a second touchdown, which occurred without further issues. The aircraft came to a stop on the center of runway 30, approximately 300 meters from the threshold. Airport services subsequently towed the aircraft to the usual parking area.
Damage
The force of the first touchdown caused the nose gear to lose its fairing and sustain damage to the fork, wheel, lower part of the engine cowling, and engine mount. The propeller tips were bent due to contact with the runway surface. The aircraft was assessed with substantial damage; no other damage was reported.
Injuries
The student pilot was uninjured.
Conclusions
Considering the damage to the propeller and nose gear, the final approach was likely performed with a slightly higher than normal descent angle. This made the flare more complicated to execute for a pilot with limited experience.