ATL02LA133

The pilot stated that during the approach to land the airplane touched down hard and short of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. Post examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunction or flight control problems.

On June 27, 2002, at 1200 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6708W, registered to and operated by a student pilot nose gear collapse during a bounced landing at Picayune Municipal Airport, in Picayune, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The local flight originated from Picayune, Mississippi, at 1130.

The student pilot was practicing flight maneuvers west of the airport. After approximately an hour the student pilot returned to the airport to conduct touch and go landings. The student pilot entered the left downwind for runway 18. While on final approach the student pilot noticed the airplane was low and touched down approximately 10 feet short of the runway. The airplane bounced several times down the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane veered off approximately 150 feet off the left side of the runway surface. The airplane came to rest on the grass adjacent to the runway.

Examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall buckled, and the engine mounts were broken. The wheel strut was broken. The nose gear had broken off and settled under the fuselage. The propeller tips were bent aft, and the underside of the fuselage was scraped. Examination of the airplane revealed no flight control or mechanical malfunctions.