Fixing Your Bounce

The primary cause of a bounced landing is flaring too high above the runway, perhaps with too much speed. In our ideal, perfect landing, the airplane will quit flying just inches above the runway. Instead, a bounce results when the flare occurs a few feet above it, and the airplane has the energy-resulting from excess altitude, excess airspeed or both-to rebound back into the air. In any event, a bounce results when the airplane isnt finished flying.

Aviation Safety

Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Bounced landings typically occur when a pilot flares too high or with excessive airspeed, causing the aircraft to rebound with remaining energy.
Although a bounce itself is usually harmless, improper pilot response can lead to loss of control; pilots must either execute a go-around or skillfully recover by re-establishing level flight over the runway for a smoother subsequent touchdown.
To prevent bounces, pilots should practice flaring closer to the runway, manage airspeed effectively, and improve depth perception to achieve a consistent and gentle one-touchdown landing.

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Whether you’re a pre-solo student or an experienced pilot always flying the same airplane, getting a smooth landing every time can be a challenge. Unfortunately, landings are the yardstick by which many gauge our abilities as a pilot, so anything other than a smooth, picture-perfect return to terra firma is cause for discussion and grading.

According to the old saying, if there’s no damage, any landing is a good one. Great landings, on the other hand, have a few characteristics, among them is lack of a bounce or two. The thing is that a bounced landing usually has well-understood causes. Happily, there also are well-understood remedies.