Incident Overview
On 1 March 2005 at 0730Z, a Jabiru SP 470 aircraft, registration ZU-CHJ, was involved in an incident during landing at Springs Aerodrome. The aircraft was conducting an aerial survey flight. The weather at the time was light and variable wind, temperature 23°C, and good visibility.
Sequence of Events
The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, took off from Baragwanath Aerodrome for an aerial surveillance detail en route to Springs. The pilot joined the circuit at Springs Aerodrome at 7000 feet and turned onto final approach for Runway 03 at an indicated airspeed of 70 knots. The aircraft touched down approximately 300 meters past the threshold of Runway 03. The pilot applied brakes approximately 550 meters past the threshold, but the brakes failed to slow the aircraft. The pilot considered a go-around but decided against it. The aircraft subsequently impacted the aerodrome perimeter fence and came to a halt on the other side of the fence.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage to the propeller, right-hand undercarriage, windows, and wing struts. No injuries were reported among the one pilot and one passenger.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was the pilot exceeding the approach speed limitations of the aircraft. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, the approach speed is 57 knots, but the pilot landed at 70 knots. This excessive landing speed caused the brakes to heat up rapidly upon application, resulting in a loss of brake efficiency and subsequent failure to stop the aircraft on the runway.