What happened
On 10 March 2005, a Piper PA 34-220T, registration ZS-LTX, was conducting a private flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome to Sishen Aerodrome with five occupants on board. After approximately two hours of flight, the aircraft joined the overhead pattern at Sishen at 2,000 feet AGL. The pilot selected Runway 35 for landing, noting a north-westerly wind.
As the aircraft approached the runway threshold, the pilot reported an indicated airspeed of roughly 100 knots with a crosswind component from the left. During the final stages of the approach, the aircraft encountered a sudden increase in sink rate. Despite the pilot applying back-pressure to the control column, the descent could not be arrested, leading to a hard landing. This impact caused the aircraft to bounce. During the subsequent bounce, the aircraft rolled to the left and pitched forward, causing the left propeller to strike the runway surface on the second touchdown.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions and the pilot's actions during the landing phase. Meteorological data at the time indicated surface winds of approximately 305 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots, with a temperature of 30°C and good visibility. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the most recent Mandatory Periodic Inspection had been completed on 19 November 2004, with 93.6 flight hours accumulated since that inspection.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a hard landing that triggered an uncontrolled bounce.
- The pilot utilized an incorrect recovery technique following the bounce, allowing the aircraft to roll left and pitch down.
- A sudden, unanticipated change in wind direction likely caused a loss of lift as the aircraft passed over the runway threshold, contributing to the initial sink rate.