What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot reported that while doing solo pattern work as a student pilot, he was on an approach on the proper glide path based on the PAPI lights. The pilot stated that he was at 65 knots IAS with full flaps and upon crossing the threshold reduced power just before flaring. At this time he reported that a gust of wind caught the aircraft causing it to balloon and bounce twice. After the second bounce the pilot applied full power and executed a go-around. Upon the next landing the pilot taxied back to the ramp and informed his flight instructor. Upon inspection of the aircraft by the baltimore FSDO it was determined that the engine firewall had been bent indicating substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE DOING SOLO PATTERN WORK AS A STUDENT PILOT, HE WAS ON AN APPROACH ON THE PROPER GLIDE PATH BASED ON THE PAPI LIGHTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AT 65 KNOTS IAS WITH FULL FLAPS AND UPON CROSSING THE THRESHOLD REDUCED POWER JUST BEFORE FLARING. AT THIS TIME HE REPORTED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING IT TO BALLOON AND BOUNCE TWICE. AFTER THE SECOND BOUNCE THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. UPON THE NEXT LANDING THE PILOT TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP AND INFORMED HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE BALTIMORE FSDO IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FIREWALL HAD BEEN BENT INDICATING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N65329 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.