What happened
On 27 April 2006, a Cessna 182T, registration ZS-KDC, was conducting a private flight from Brakpan Aerodrome to Vryburg Aerodrome. During the flight, the pilot opted to perform touch-and-go landings at a private airstrip located south of the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in Gauteng.
After performing initial inspections of the runway from 500 ft and 50 ft altitudes, the pilot determined the surface was suitable for landing. During the final approach, the aircraft was configured with 10 degrees of flaps at an indicated airspeed of 80 kts. The aircraft touched down at approximately 75 kts. However, as the pilot attempted to apply power for the subsequent takeoff, the left main landing gear wheel struck a hole that had been hidden by grass. This impact caused the aircraft to yaw sharply to the left.
Despite the sudden movement, the pilot successfully regained control and transitioned into a normal climb. Upon leveling off, the pilot discovered that the left-hand main landing gear wheel spat had been torn off. As a precaution against potential structural damage to the gear, the pilot diverted the flight to Rand Aerodrome, where the aircraft landed safely. No injuries were reported for the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the condition of the private runway and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Post-incident inspections of the Cessna 182T revealed that, in addition to the missing wheel spat, the left-hand tail plane had sustained a dent. Maintenance records were reviewed, showing that the aircraft's last Mandatory Periodic Inspection had been completed in January 2006, with only 42.3 hours flown since that service. The maintenance organization involved was found to be properly certified.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the left main landing gear wheel entering a hole that was obscured by vegetation on the private runway.
- The impact with the hidden obstacle resulted in the loss of the left-hand wheel spat and damage to the tail plane.