N442ER

On November 1, 2005, about 1136 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N442ER, registered to General Electric Finance Corporation and operated by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, experienced a hard landing at Daytona Beach International Airport, Daytona Beach, FL, Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight from Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, FL. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated about 1030 from Melbourne, FL.

The pilot stated that he did not apply adequate back pressure to the control yoke during the landing flare, and because of this, "I bounced very roughly." He further stated that he executed a go-around after the hard landing, flew another traffic pattern, and landed without further incident. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that prior to the hard landing there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.