Twin II Acro lands hard when the flare is not held

A Grob Twin II Acro touched down hard at Mid-Way Regional Airport; the pilot was unhurt and the lower fuselage substantially damaged. The pilot reported a sudden loss of lift in the flare, and no mechanical fault was found. The probable cause was a flare that was not properly held, with low time on type contributing.

1. Landing flare at Mid-Way Regional: The Grob G-103A Twin II Acro was in the landing flare at Mid-Way Regional Airport (JWY), runway 18, after a local personal flight. Wind 16 kt from 190° (essentially down the runway).
2. Low experience on type: The student pilot held a foreign private pilot certificate for airplanes and was a student in gliders, with only limited experience on this glider make and model.
3. Flare not fully held: The NTSB cites as probable cause a landing flare not properly attained or maintained. The pilot reported experiencing a sudden loss of lift in the flare.
4. Hard touchdown: The glider landed hard on the runway.
5. Substantial lower-fuselage damage: Substantial damage to the lower fuselage; the student pilot was uninjured. No mechanical anomalies precluding normal operation.