What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 3, 2009 student pilot terry reynolds was soloing his aircraft, a Cessna 172, registered N7810T. He went on a local flight to the practice area, followed by touch and go practice. Mr. Reynolds stated that on his third touch and go, the nosewheel "broke off" upon a normal landing. He stated that a mechanic on the field had advised him that the strut probably had a small crack that went undetected. The investigation determined that this aircraft suffered an extremely hard landing, most likely on the nosewheel first. Mr. Reynolds intitially soloed on August 11, 2009, and his recommending instructor stated that he had nov previous problems with the "flare" portion of landings. Mr. Reynolds only holds a student pilot certificate, and is not currently flying. He will continue to receive additional instruction from his flight instructor.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 3, 2009 STUDENT PILOT TERRY REYNOLDS WAS SOLOING HIS AIRCRAFT, A CESSNA 172, REGISTERED N7810T. HE WENT ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO THE PRACTICE AREA, FOLLOWED BY TOUCH AND GO PRACTICE. MR. REYNOLDS STATED THAT ON HIS THIRD TOUCH AND GO, THE NOSEWHEEL "BROKE OFF" UPON A NORMAL LANDING. HE STATED THAT A MECHANIC ON THE FIELD HAD ADVISED HIM THAT THE STRUT PROBABLY HAD A SMALL CRACK THAT WENT UNDETECTED. THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THIS AIRCRAFT SUFFERED AN EXTREMELY HARD LANDING, MOST LIKELY ON THE NOSEWHEEL FIRST. MR. REYNOLDS INTITIALLY SOLOED ON AUGUST 11, 2009, AND HIS RECOMMENDING INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE HAD NOV PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE "FLARE" PORTION OF LANDINGS. MR. REYNOLDS ONLY HOLDS A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE, AND IS NOT CURRENTLY FLYING. HE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION FROM HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.