Introduction
On 20 June 2002 at 0915Z, a Piper PA-31-350, registration ZS-NDN, was involved in an incident at Johannesburg International Airport during a ferry flight. The aircraft was occupied by a single pilot, who reported no injuries. The weather was fine.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had completed a charter flight from Singita (Sabi Sands Area) to Johannesburg International Airport (FAJS). After passengers disembarked, the pilot intended to ferry the aircraft back to its home base at Wonderboom Aerodrome. During a pre-flight walk-around inspection, the pilot found the flaps fully extended and could not retract them. Despite this, the pilot decided to proceed with the ferry flight with the flaps in the fully extended position.
The aircraft was cleared for take-off on Runway 03L. Shortly after rotation, the pilot selected the undercarriage up. Approximately halfway down the runway, the pilot noted a loss of engine power on the No. 1 (left) engine, along with substantial black smoke. The aircraft began to descend, and the pilot elected to land back on the remaining runway. However, the undercarriage was still in the retracted position. As the pilot realised this, the extended flaps and propellers contacted the runway surface for about 12 metres. The pilot then pulled the nose up and applied power, selecting the undercarriage down. By then, the available runway had been used, and the aircraft veered left off the extended centreline. The aircraft landed on the grass surface in the overshoot area and came to a halt approximately 50 metres from the perimeter fence. Nobody was injured.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was determined as follows: The pilot decided to ferry the aircraft back to Wonderboom after he was unable to retract the flaps. The electrical flap motor was found inoperative. During the take-off roll, the pilot experienced an engine power loss on the No. 1 engine as a result of excessive carbonisation of the turbine end journal bearing.