What happened
On October 3, 2002, a Cessna 210, registration ZS-OHO, was involved in a ground incident at Kei Mouth. While the pilot was taxiing toward the threshold of Runway 26 to begin a takeoff roll, the aircraft's nose wheel encountered a section of the runway composed of soft and muddy sand. This contact caused the nose landing gear to collapse, resulting in the propeller striking the ground. The impact caused a slight bend to one of the propeller blade tips, though the rest of the aircraft remained undamaged.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway conditions and the aircraft's maintenance history following the event. It was determined that recent rainfall in the region had left the runway surface in a muddy and soft state. The pilot, who held a valid private pilot's license and was properly endorsed for the aircraft type, was operating with two passengers on board. Regarding maintenance, the aircraft had undergone its most recent mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) on September 17, 2002, approximately 14 flight hours prior to the incident.