What happened
On October 24, 2003, a PIPER PA 34-220T, registration ZS-LKV, was conducting a business flight from Virginia Aerodrome to Secunda Aerodrome. The flight, carrying a pilot and one passenger, lasted approximately 85 minutes. Upon approaching Secunda, the aircraft encountered gusty crosswind conditions. During the landing sequence on Runway 11, the aircraft experienced a ballooning effect and drifted toward the left side of the runway. In an effort to correct the heading, the pilot executed a heavy touchdown on the right-hand landing gear. This impact caused the propeller blades of the number two engine to strike the runway surface.
Following the incident, the crew performed a ground engine run at Secunda to test the feathering procedure. Because the engine appeared to be functioning correctly, the pilot elected to continue the flight back to Virginia Aerodrome. The return leg took approximately 90 minutes.
The investigation
After returning to Virginia, the pilot notified a maintenance organization regarding the propeller strike. The propeller was subsequently removed from the ZS-LKV and sent to a certified maintenance facility for a detailed inspection. The evaluation determined that the propeller had sustained damage that placed it outside of safe operating limits, rendering it unfit for further flight operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a heavy touchdown on the right-hand landing gear caused by the pilot's attempt to maintain runway heading after the aircraft drifted left.
- The presence of gusty crosswind conditions at the time of landing contributed to the aircraft's instability and subsequent ballooning.