LAX02LA167

The airplane hit hard, bounced, veered off the runway, and the right main landing gear sheared off when the airplane collided with a runway marker sign. The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway into a dirt area. The student pilot attempted to turn the airplane to the right, back onto the runway. The airplane's right main landing gear strut collided with a runway marker sign, and the right main landing gear sheered off. The airplane continued veering to the right, across the runway, and departed the right side. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

On May 20, 2002, about 1135 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N3547H, veered off the runway while attempting to land at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona Flight Works was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local instructional flight originated SDL about 1015.

In a written statement, the operator of the accident airplane reported that the student pilot was attempting to perform practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 21. After completing several touch-and-go's, the student pilot configured the airplane for his last practice attempt. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway, into a dirt area.

The student pilot attempted to turn the airplane to the right, back onto the runway. The airplane's right main landing gear strut collided with a runway marker sign, and the right main landing gear sheered off. The airplane continued veering to the right, across the runway, and departed the right side. The airplane came to rest in a dirt area off the right side of the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the horizontal tail spar. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.