Date: 201702
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operator: FBO
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Landing
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Tail Boom
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Instructor
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I meet two students for lessons. I briefed both students per the lesson plan and since I had not flown with either student I asked them if they had landed an aircraft by themselves and had they been demonstrated a forward slip to land by their regular instructor. Both students replied in the affirmative and demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the procedures and V speed during the pre-mission brief. Preflight run up and taxi were all within standards; however I noticed that the student pilot taxied well left of center line; he corrected after prompting.On the takeoff we performed a short field takeoff [and] the student lacked right rudder inpu. The student corrected when prompted; [but] this tendency continued for the duration of the flight. We stayed in the pattern and made left traffic. The first approach performed was a normal landing the student turned early to final and was well left of course; we performed a go-around. Second approach performed was a short field landing at the 1;000 feet mark; student preformed the landing within standards with minimum instructor input until the threshold touching down just past his intended landing point. Third approach was a forward slip to land. Student preformed the downwind and base leg to standards; but turned early to final and was well left of center line. I aborted the approach and we performed a go around. The fourth and fifth approaches were normal and short; both within lessons standards.Sixth approach was forward slip to land; downwind was within 100 feet of TPA; abeam touchdown 1;000 feet mark point student reduced power to 1;600 RPM and extended Flaps 10 and descended to 1;900 MSL (700 AGL). Student maintained altitude from base to final; aircraft was aligned with the center line on final however student began the forward slip early. Airspeed was 70 KIAS in the decent; I instructed the student to an increase engine power from idle by 300 RPM to make the 1;000 foot markers. Upon the threshold passing under the engine cowl the student abruptly reduced power to idle and began pitch for a nose up attitude without removing the forward slip. I promptly took control of the aircraft and pitched nose down while applying right rudder to remove the slip. The aircraft landed hard with the stall horn going off I heard a loud 'thunk' and immediately suspect a tail strike. I requested a taxi back to the apron where we parked and inspected the tail and saw visible damage. We secured the aircraft and returned to the [ramp].




Synopsis: A PA-28 instructor reported his student's control and landing difficulties ended with a high flare and an early power reduction. Subsequently; the aircraft landed hard which resulted in a tail strike.