Aero Commander 100 Series
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 5600; Flight Crew Type 1119
Other / Unknown
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
The student had about 70 hours total time and I had flown with him about 20 hours and was feeling good about his flying abilities. I had recently soloed him (he had soloed with his previous instructor many months before). He was practicing crosswind landings on runway 18. The wind was 210 at 9K gusting 16K. He had performed 3 patterns to touch and goes without any problems. On the 4th pattern; from mid-field on downwind; I pulled on the carb heat and reduced the power to idle and told him to perform a simulated engine failure. The student was doing a good job of controlling his airspeed (maintaining 70 mph) and altitude; but overshot the runway a little; I advised him to bank left to line up with the center-line. As he rolled wings level; he pulled the nose up to the landing attitude and the airplane entered a high sink from an altitude of about 15 ft. I told him to go around; but before he could add power; we hit the runway with the nose to the left of center line and on the right gear; in a left drift. I felt the airplane shudder; lean to the right and rapidly serve to the right (I thought the right main tire had a blowout due to the hard landing). I told the student I have the controls; he released the controls. I applied full left rudder and applied the left brake; but we still were moving to the right. I applied power; thinking the added airflow over the rudder might make it more effective; plus the torque might add some additional left turning tendency; instead the airplane continued the right turn but at an increased rate. I could not keep the airplane on the runway. I reduced the power to idle and continued to apply the brakes; but it was too late. As we exited the hard surface; I felt the airplane list even more to the right. I shut the engine down and after we came to a complete stop; I turned the master switch and mags to off; and we exited the airplane.The right main landing gear was folded outboard; right wingtip had suffered damage when we hit a taxiway sign; and the right side of the rear window was cracked. The student was flying good patterns and landings. He had recently soloed. As he was doing so well; I was not following him on the controls. I was not prepared for the high flare and sudden sink rate. I was too slow in calling for the go around and was not able to take control of the plane until we hit the runway in a left drift. Due to the right main gear damage; I was not able to stop the airplane from exiting the runway.I had placed too much confidence in the student's abilities; especially during a more challenging maneuver. The only thing I can think of is I should have been following him on the controls and called for the go around sooner.
Lark Commander instructor pilot experienced a hard landing causing damage to the aircraft when his student attempted a simulated engine out landing from the traffic pattern and flared well above the runway. The instructor was unable to takeover in time to prevent a collapsed right main landing gear.