NTSB Factual Report

On July 8, 2006, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 182H, N3479S, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, made a hard landing at the Birmingham International Airport (BHM) in Birmingham, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight last departed from Walker County-Bevill Airport (JFX) in Jasper, Alabama, on July 8, 2006, at 1400.

According to the pilot, they were returning from a VFR flight to JFX and made an approach to runway 18 at BHM. The pilot said that "although my approach speed was 70 knots and the stall horn never went off, the aircraft sank rapidly, once I was over the pavement. I added power to arrest the descent but the aircraft bounced on the landing from approximately 10 feet up. I arrested the descent with power and made a normal landing, however the aircraft began to porpoise violently, and I was unable to stop it." The pilot further stated that as a safety recommendation, she should have "initiated a go-around after the first bounce."

Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the nose gear strut and tire blown out, and damage to the firewall and engine mount. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach resulting in a stall/mush and a hard landing.