N2980H

On July 17, 1999, at 2015 central daylight time (cdt), an Ercoupe 415-C, N2980H, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when on landing, the airplane bounced and subsequently impacted on to a grass runway at the Winfield Airport, Bristol, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Bristol, Wisconsin, at 1940 cdt.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he came into the airstrip after clearing a high tension [power] line by approximately 200 feet. The airplane's speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (mph). The airplane descended to the runway, touching down between 65 to 70 mph. The pilot said he bounced and floated before touching down again. "I started to roll out, and crested a small hill [on the runway] with a dip on the other side of it." The airplane became airborne again, began to settle, and then struck the nose gear.

An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the airstrip. The airplane's nose gear was buckled aft. The engine mounts were twisted and broken. The lower firewall was bent back. The skin around the lower cowling and forward fuselage was buckled and cracked. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.