CHI99LA251

The personal flight entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing at the destination airport. The pilot reported that the winds were light and variable and 'Upon touchdown a/c settled abruptly to the left and became unstable. The a/c stayed on center of runway then turned hard right.' A witness stated that the aircraft made a hard landing followed by a bounce of approximately 4-5 feet. He added that after another hard contact, the aircraft then veered to the right and skidded off the west side of the runway.

On July 25, 1999, at 1620 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N9330C, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a bounced landing on runway 15 (3,900 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at Frankfort Dow Memorial Field, Frankfort, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The personal flight departed Saginaw County H. W. Brown Airport, Saginaw, Michigan, at 1430, en route to Manistee County-Blacker Airport, Manistee, Michigan.

In a written statement, the pilot reported the following: "...Upon reaching Frankfort, used a normal approach pattern ie; crosswind, downwind, base, final. Winds were light and variable, temp 90 degrees. Upon touchdown a/c settled abruptly to the left and became unstable. The a/c stayed on center of runway then turned hard to the right. I could not stop this turn with opposite rudder or brake. The left wheel dug into [the] grass and the a/c came to rest on the left wing tip, left gear and prop. The pilot also reported a mechanical failure of the "left tire/tube".

A witness, who also reported to be a pilot, stated the he had observed the accident aircraft on a left downwind pattern and on final approach from about 100 feet to touchdown. The witness stated that the aircraft made a hard landing followed by a bounce of approximately 4-5 feet. He added that after another hard contact, the aircraft then veered to the right and skidded off the west side of the runway. The witness reported that the winds were under 10 mph from 250 degrees with "no significant gusts".

Flight control continuity was established by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Advisory Circular, AC 61-21A, Flight Training Handbook, states the following under, "Bouncing During Touchdown": "When the airplane contacts the ground with a sharp impact as the result of an improper attitude or an excessive rate of sink, it tends to "bounce" back into the air..." AC-61-21A states under "Hard Landing", "When the airplane contacts the ground during landings, its vertical speed is instantly reduced to zero. Unless provision is made to slow the vertical speed and cushion the impact of touchdown, the force of contact with the ground may be so great as to cause structural damage. ...A 6 inch free fall on landing is equal, roughly to a 340-foot per minute descent..."