DEN07CA154

Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, the solo instructional flight departed from the local airport and he practiced basic flight maneuvers for approximately 1/2 hour in the local area. During the approach for landing, the airplane "was a bit low, so I added power, pushed the nose down and got back on the glide-slope. I touched down; there was a bounce, I added a little power to recover. There was a slight bounce again and this time I decided to add full power and do a go-around." Upon landing after the go-around, the student pilot "found that I could not steer using the left-rudder pedal." The student pilot then taxied the airplane to the ramp by utilizing the brakes. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled and bent. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The accident was reported to the NTSB on September 6, 2007. The student pilot reported that the airplane "bounced" twice on his first attempt to land and he executed a go-around. The second attempt at landing was successful, and while taxiing the airplane to park, the student pilot "found that I could not steer the airplane using the left rudder pedal." Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled and bent. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12