What happened
On 26 March 2006, a Ravin 500 aircraft, registration ZU-DCT, was conducting a private flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome to Grand Central Aerodrome. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was cleared by Air Traffic Control to land on Runway 35.
While the landing gear was confirmed to be down during the approach and initial touchdown, the situation changed approximately 100 meters into the landing roll. The landing gear collapsed, causing the propeller to strike the asphalt runway surface. This impact led the aircraft to veer off the right side of the runway, eventually coming to a halt on the grass surface about 5 meters from the runway edge. The incident resulted in no injuries to the pilot and caused minor damage to the aircraft, as well as damage to a runway light.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the mechanical state of the aircraft. During the on-scene inspection, investigators noted significant deformation in the torque tube assembly and the hydraulic actuator. The aircraft was later recovered to the manufacturer's facility, where it was placed on jacks for a comprehensive inspection of the undercarriage system.
Testing conducted under the supervision of the manufacturer revealed that the landing gear system was functioning according to design specifications. No mechanical defects or malfunctions were found in the retraction or extension mechanisms. Investigators also noted that the flaps were found in the full down position by first responders, though the pilot had retracted them before investigators arrived at the scene.
Findings
- The aircraft was well-maintained, with its last annual inspection completed only six hours prior to the incident.
- Weather conditions were excellent, with calm winds and clear visibility.
- The primary cause of the incident was pilot error, specifically the unintentional retraction of the landing gear after the pilot mistakenly moved the gear lever to the up position instead of the flap lever.
- Once the hydraulic system was activated to retract the gear, the pilot attempted to extend it again. However, the hydraulic pressure could not overcome the weight of the sinking aircraft, leading to the bending of the torque tube and associated rods.