What happened
On December 18, 2005, a Jabiru aircraft, registration ZU-BOS, was involved in an incident during a private flight. The sequence of events began at Flamingo Aerodrome, where the pilot was performing high-speed taxiing. During this maneuver, a sudden wind gust lifted the aircraft into the air. Seeking a safer landing environment due to the narrow runway at Flamingo, the pilot decided to divert to East London Aerodrome (FAEL).
While attempting to land on Runway 11 at East London Aerodrome, the pilot encountered intense, gusting westerly winds. These conditions resulted in the aircraft touching down with a tailwind. During the landing roll, the aircraft ballooned, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground on its nose wheel, which caused the gear to separate from the airframe and resulted in damage to the propeller. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the pilot's experience and the aircraft's maintenance history. The investigation established that the pilot was not rated on this specific aircraft type, though the pilot claimed familiarity with the model through previous air show experience. Regarding the aircraft's airworthiness, the last annual inspection had been completed on December 3, 2005, with only 15 airframe hours logged since that service. The aircraft's Authority to Fly Certificate was valid at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The pilot knowingly operated the aircraft without the required type rating.
- Strong, gusting westerly winds caused the aircraft to land with a tailwind, leading to a loss of control.
- The impact on the nose wheel was the direct cause of the landing gear separation and propeller damage.