Incident Overview
On 5 February 2005 at 0920Z, a Piper PA28-140 aircraft, registered ZS-EVJ, was conducting a solo training flight at Port Alfred Aerodrome. The only person on board was the student pilot. The weather at the time was temperature 28°C, wind 180° at 5 knots, and CAVOK.
Landing and Loss of Control
The student pilot approached Runway 25 at an indicated airspeed (IAS) of approximately 85 mph. Upon landing, the aircraft bounced twice. During the subsequent ground roll, the aircraft initially veered slightly to the right, then to the left, and began skidding. The pilot attempted to bring the aircraft back on track using the rudder pedals, but it sharply turned left before coming to a stop.
Damage and Injuries
As a result of the incident, the aircraft sustained damage to the nose oleo, landing gear, and right wing tip. No injuries were reported; the pilot was uninjured.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was that the aircraft was landed hard on its nose wheel, resulting in damage to the nose oleo. Subsequently, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft.