WPR10LA426

The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight the first touchdown was smooth; however, the airplane bounced and became airborne. The second touchdown was much firmer. On the third touchdown the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, whereupon the nose gear assembly and several structural components in the composite fuselage broke.

On August 24, 2010, about 1407 mountain standard time, a Grob-Werke G 120A, N865AF, operated by Airline Training Center, Goodyear, Arizona, made a hard bounced landing at the Buckeye Municipal Airport, Buckeye, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot, who was performing his first solo instructional flight, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Buckeye about 1400. According to the student pilot, he performed three landings with his flight instructor and then was authorized to make his first solo flight. After takeoff, he performed a closed traffic pattern and attempted to land. The student opined that his first touchdown was relatively smooth. However, the airplane became airborne, and the second touchdown was "much firmer." On the third touchdown, described by the pilot as "very firm," the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. The nose wheel impacted the ground before the main landing gear, and the nose gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear assembly and several structural components in the composite fuselage were broken. (For additional details regarding damage, see the report from Grob regarding its structural examination.)