What happened
On 10 July 2003, a Volksplane VP-1, registration ZS-UJI, was involved in a landing incident at Brits Aerodrome. The aircraft, operated for private purposes, was being flown by a pilot performing circuit and landing practice on Runway 20. After successfully completing two circuits, the pilot attempted a third landing. During this final approach, the aircraft suddenly veered uncontrollably toward the right side of the runway.
There were no injuries reported following the event. However, the aircraft sustained significant damage to its cowling, propeller, and landing gear.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the site of the excursion to determine the mechanics of the failure. Post-incident inspections of the ZS-UJI revealed that the right-hand main wheel axle and the wheel itself had detached from the airframe. The main wheel was located at the threshold of Runway 02, while the axle was found just to the right of the Runway 20 threshold.
Findings
Technical analysis determined that the right-hand wheel axle failed at the point where it was welded to the undercarriage flange. This failure caused the axle to come adrift during the landing roll, leading to the loss of directional control. The investigation also identified a design-related contributing factor: the specific design of the component required the axle to be welded into the flange, which created stress concentrations. Over time, these concentrated stresses led to the structural failure of the welded area.