What happened
While operating a flight from Skukuza to Pilanesberg, the aircraft experienced a total loss of hydraulic pressure. Despite this mechanical issue, the crew managed to complete a successful landing on Runway 23 at Pilanesberg. Following the touchdown, the pilot proceeded down the runway for roughly 2000 meters after shutting down both engines. During this roll, the aircraft drifted to the left of the runway centerline, eventually exiting the paved surface and entering a ditch located 75 meters from the runway edge, where it came to a final stop.
There were no injuries reported among the crew. However, the aircraft suffered significant damage, and the airport's perimeter fencing was also heavily impacted by the excursion.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified a leaking left-hand hydraulic pump as the source of the system failure. While the aircraft appeared to be properly maintained, the Cockpit Voice Recorder was found to be non-functional at the time of the event.
Contributing factors included pilot error during the landing phase; specifically, the pilot neglected to deactivate the Nose Wheel Steering and failed to engage both hydraulic cut-off switches after landing. Additionally, it was noted that the existing Emergency Checklist lacks specific instructions for managing a total hydraulic failure. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear.