BEAUMONT, TX, USA
N150WM
Cessna 150M
The airplane started porpoising after the student pilot made a hard landing. The student pilot reported that he thought he was 'too high' on final approach and 'nosed down' by pushing forward on the yoke. The student's instructor stated that the 'aircraft bounced after a hard landing at which time a series of oscillations followed which resulted in the nose wheel being severed from the nose strut.' The airplane came to rest nose down on the runway.
On July 18, 1999, at 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N150WM, was substantially damaged following a hard landing at the Beaumont Municipal Airport, Beaumont, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Beaumont Wings, Inc., of Beaumont, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from Beaumont at 0915. During a telephone interview conducted by NTSB personnel, the student pilot stated the he had been performing touch-and-go landings on runway 31 and that this was his fourth landing of the day. As the airplane approached the runway, he felt as though it was "too high." He then "nosed down" by pushing forward on the yoke. He further stated that the airplane impacted the runway with the main landing gear, approximately 50 feet from the approach end. The aircraft then "bounced," after which it impacted the runway a second time. The aircraft came to rest nose down approximately halfway down the runway. In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the instructor stated that the "aircraft bounced after a hard landing at which time a series of oscillations followed which resulted in the nose wheel being severed from the strut." The student pilot had accumulated 20 hours total flying time and this was his first "unsupervised solo." Examination of the aircraft by a mechanic contracted by Beaumont Wings, Inc., revealed separation of the nose landing gear assembly with the strut pushed into the firewall, separation of the firewall from the upper attachment point, a 3-4 inch hole in the underbelly skin aft of the main landing gear, as well as damage to the engine/nose landing gear mount, carburetor heat box, air filter, and propeller blades.
The student pilot's excessive rate of descent resulting in the hard landing and his improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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