On August 25, 2002, about 0930, eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4859F, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, had a hard landing at Moore County Airport, Pinehurst, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The student-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight departed Pinehurst, North Carolina, the same day, about 0915. The student stated that he had dropped off his flight instructor after having been instructed to remain within the traffic pattern and perform practice landings. He said that his initial approach to land was normal, but as the airplane touched down it bounced, and then it touched down a second time, impacting the ground heavily on the nose wheel, and the tire "blew." He said he then applied the brakes to attempt to stop the airplane, and it came to rest partially on the paved runway and partially on the grass. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the firewall, and fuselage areas immediately aft of the firewall. Prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.