Sooner or later your used aircraft search will find an airplane that’s suffered a so-called hard landing. While that’s the sugarcoated word for damage history, in some circumstances this is hardly a deal breaker. Other times, it’s best to walk away, especially if the damage has gone unnoticed or left unrepaired.
What’s the definition of a hard landing, exactly? Few service manuals are specific other than describing it as the airplane touching down with an excessive sink rate. But what matters is the type of damage sustained, how it’s repaired and its effect on resale value.