Light Sport Aircraft
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 59; Flight Crew Type 12
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Evacuated; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather; Aircraft
I am a student pilot that was performing my initial solo cross country.  I had safely completed the initial leg; and was returning to ZZZ.  On final; in the flare; I experienced an unanticipated crosswind gust; which resulted in the airplane dropping suddenly and causing a hard landing on the left main gear.  I applied full power to go around and re-attempt the landing.  I noticed that the airplane was yawing more than usual and recognized the airplane was operating in an abnormal condition.  Shortly thereafter; I heard a radio call that a landing gear was visible on the runway at which point I realized that I had lost my left main gear.  I continued to fly the traffic pattern under radio guidance from a CFI who was on the ground while I burned fuel and prepared for an emergency landing.  On final; under instruction from the CFI; I cut all fuel and powered down the aircraft; while continuing to fly the airplane to a landing. I landed on the right main gear and the aircraft settled to the ground ultimately skidding on in its belly as it made contact with the runway surface.  Due to the lack of directional control from only having the right main gear; the aircraft skidded left off the runway and came to rest in the grass left of the runway surface. I was able to exit the aircraft safely with no physical injuries. Following the event; I was interviewed by an Aviation Safety Inspector from the CITY Flight Standards Office and discussed the details shared above in its entirety.
Student pilot reported a hard landing which severed the left main gear; requiring an emergency landing.