Narrative:

During a training flight, my student (an mei applicant) and I decided to practice short field lndgs. We arrived at X59 on a 45 degree downwind entry to runway 32. Estimated wind was approximately 270 degrees at 15 KTS. The approach to landing was executed on target -- proper airspeed and altitudes. On final, slightly prior to our aiming point, the aircraft experienced noticeable sink. We were then over the landing surface at approximately 30 ft AGL. Addition power was applied to slow the rate of descent. As descent rate continued to decrease, student verbalized 'going around.' immediately thereafter, student removed all power and said, 'I think we can make it.' she then attempted to arrest descent by greatly increasing the pitch altitude. I reapplied power as quickly as possible, but a hard landing was made. Aircraft touched down straight and in a flared altitude. Postflt inspection revealed right main gear suffered damage and was almost detached. Mild damage occurred to left main gear. No apparent damage to nose gear. 2 main contributors: 1) trees surrounding runway threshold may have caused a change in wind speed and direction. I should have recognized the possibility of sink and been more prepared. 2) I placed too much trust in the student's decision to go around. No matter what the skill level or how many ratings the student may possess, he/she is still the student. As the instructor pilot, I will definitely keep my hand closer to the throttle next time.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HARD LNDG DURING SHORT FIELD LNDG PRACTICE.

Narrative: DURING A TRAINING FLT, MY STUDENT (AN MEI APPLICANT) AND I DECIDED TO PRACTICE SHORT FIELD LNDGS. WE ARRIVED AT X59 ON A 45 DEG DOWNWIND ENTRY TO RWY 32. ESTIMATED WIND WAS APPROX 270 DEGS AT 15 KTS. THE APCH TO LNDG WAS EXECUTED ON TARGET -- PROPER AIRSPD AND ALTS. ON FINAL, SLIGHTLY PRIOR TO OUR AIMING POINT, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED NOTICEABLE SINK. WE WERE THEN OVER THE LNDG SURFACE AT APPROX 30 FT AGL. ADDITION PWR WAS APPLIED TO SLOW THE RATE OF DSCNT. AS DSCNT RATE CONTINUED TO DECREASE, STUDENT VERBALIZED 'GOING AROUND.' IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, STUDENT REMOVED ALL PWR AND SAID, 'I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT.' SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO ARREST DSCNT BY GREATLY INCREASING THE PITCH ALT. I REAPPLIED PWR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT A HARD LNDG WAS MADE. ACFT TOUCHED DOWN STRAIGHT AND IN A FLARED ALT. POSTFLT INSPECTION REVEALED R MAIN GEAR SUFFERED DAMAGE AND WAS ALMOST DETACHED. MILD DAMAGE OCCURRED TO L MAIN GEAR. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO NOSE GEAR. 2 MAIN CONTRIBUTORS: 1) TREES SURROUNDING RWY THRESHOLD MAY HAVE CAUSED A CHANGE IN WIND SPD AND DIRECTION. I SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED THE POSSIBILITY OF SINK AND BEEN MORE PREPARED. 2) I PLACED TOO MUCH TRUST IN THE STUDENT'S DECISION TO GO AROUND. NO MATTER WHAT THE SKILL LEVEL OR HOW MANY RATINGS THE STUDENT MAY POSSESS, HE/SHE IS STILL THE STUDENT. AS THE INSTRUCTOR PLT, I WILL DEFINITELY KEEP MY HAND CLOSER TO THE THROTTLE NEXT TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.