FTW00LA148

During one of a series of touch-and-go landings, the student pilot 'landed a bit hard,' the airplane bounced and the flight instructor applied full power. However, 'there was not enough airspeed to stop the sink rate.' The airplane touched down again and 'hit hard on the left main gear, then on the nose wheel.' The flight instructor executed a go-around and continued the flight to the departure airport where he landed the airplane without further incident. The firewall was structurally damaged.

On May 13, 2000, at 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H single-engine airplane, N2440L, was substantially damaged during a touch and go landing at the Mesquite Metro Airport near Mesquite, Texas. The certificated flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The airplane was owned by Superior Software Solutions, Inc., of Plano, Texas, and operated by the North Texas Flying Club of Plano, 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 departed from the McKinney Airport, McKinney, Texas, approximately 0920.

According to the flight instructor and student pilot, the wind conditions on departure at McKinney Municipal Airport were "light and variable." The student pilot was executing touch-and-go landings on runway 35 at the Mesquite Metro Airport. During these landings, the wind increased, with occasional gusts up to 15 knots. During the accident touch-and-go landing, the student pilot "landed a bit hard, and the airplane bounced." The flight instructor took over the controls of the airplane and applied full power; however, "there was not enough airspeed to stop the sink rate." The airplane touched down again and "hit hard on the left main gear, then on the nose wheel." The flight instructor executed a go-around, continued the flight to McKinney Municipal Airport and landed without further incident.

The flight instructor and student pilot conducted a post flight examination, particularly of the nose wheel, strut, and shimmy damper, and no damage was noted at that time. However, on May 15, 2000, a different flight instructor reported the airplane's firewall was damaged. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and verified that the firewall was structurally damaged.

At 0953, the weather at Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Texas, (approximately 33 nautical miles northwest of the accident site) was reported as wind from 020 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statue miles, sky clear, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 43 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter setting 30.18 inches of mercury.