Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10.4; Flight Crew Total 23.6
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
It was a clear day and the wind was calm with temperature around 80 degrees F. I first did three normal takeoffs and landings on Runway 14; and then we did a short field takeoff. After we landed the plane; my flight instructor asked me if I felt ready to fly solo; and I replied yes. After we taxied back to the ramp area; he got out; and I was by myself in the plane. I made the radio call to traffic; and then taxied to Runway 14. After I made another radio call; I departed from Runway 14 and rotated when the airspeed indicator showed 60. I maintained climb out speed of 80. When the airplane was near the landmark (an area with a cluster of trees); I turned left to crosswind; and made another radio call. When I saw the airplane was about 45 degrees from the runway; I made another radio call; and turned left to downwind. I continued to climb in the downwind leg. As my flight instructor cautioned me before he left the airplane; and now I experienced it for the first time; the difference in flight characteristics of the airplane with just one person in the airplane. The plane climbed to traffic pattern altitude way before it reached mid-length of the runway. I leveled off the airplane and reduced engine power to 2;300 RPM and maintained an airspeed of 90. When the airplane was abeam the 1;000 FT mark; I turned the carburetor heat on; reduced engine RPM to 1;700; and then extended the flaps to 10%. When the airplane was about 45% from end of Runway 14; I turned left to base and made a radio call. I believed I had extended the flaps to 20% after the turn. When the airplane was over the landmark; I turned left to final; and made another radio call. I don't believe I had extended the flaps to 30%. I lineup the airplane for landing; when the airplane passed over the end of Runway 14; I noticed the airspeed indicator showed 70; and the airplane seemed to be higher above the ground than normal. I reduced the power to idle and then flared. The plane landed hard on the runway; bounced off the ground and landed again. At that moment; I panicked and applied the brakes. The airplane seemed to have hit something right after that and made some kind of noise. I kept the brakes on; not knowing what was happening. Then the airplane shuddered; and began to make a different kind of noise; the nose seemed to be going lower. When the airplane finally stopped and the propeller stopped spinning; I noticed the airplane nose was pointing to the ground. At that moment I called CTAF and advised them of the accident.I think these were the reasons for the mishap:1. The airplane was too fast during touch down. I believed that had I extended the flaps to 30 degrees; the increased drag would have slowed the airplane down to 65.2. I did not flare enough before the moment of touchdown; and probably caused the nose wheel to come into contact with the ground before the main wheels. This might be the reason that the airplane bounded back into the air.3. I panicked and applied the brakes hard; and this probably caused the nose to tip downward; and the propeller to strike the runway. Lessons learned:1. Extend flaps to 30 degrees on final to slow the airplane further; and to increase angle of descent.2. Execute flare early enough for the airplane to have the proper attitude at touchdown.
C150 student pilot describes a bounced landing resulting in damage to the aircraft during his first solo flight.