Incident Overview
On 13 July 2002 at 1130Z, a Piper PA-32-300 aircraft, registration ZS-FYP, was involved in an incident during a private flight at Ermelo Aerodrome. The aircraft was occupied by one pilot and three passengers.
Sequence of Events
During the landing roll, the pilot noticed that the aircraft started veering to the right of the runway. Once the aircraft was brought to a halt, the pilot and passengers vacated the aircraft and noted that the main right hand wheel axle had failed.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, the wind was from the north west at 8-10 knots, temperature was 18°C, and conditions were CAVOK.
Damage and Injuries
None of the occupants on board the aircraft sustained any injuries. The only damage to the aircraft was the right hand wheel axle, which had failed during landing. From a photograph submitted by the loss adjustor, it appeared that a pre-existing crack had been present which would have weakened the load bearing capacity of the component.
Probable Cause
The right hand wheel axle failed during the landing roll.