Incident Summary
On 12 July 2006 at 1400Z, a Piper PA 34-220T aircraft, registration ZS-LPM, operated on a private flight from Normandien to Pietermaritzburg Aerodrome (FAPM). The sole occupant, the pilot, was uninjured. Weather conditions were CAVOK with no reported wind and a temperature of 25°C.
Sequence of Events
Shortly after departing from a private aerodrome near Normandien, the pilot heard a loud 'banging' noise from below the right wing. A cell phone call from a ground observer informed him that the right-hand oleo strut assembly had separated from the trunnion and was hanging by the hydraulic brake pipe. The pilot then orbited the aerodrome and performed maneuvers hoping the pipe would fail and the assembly would fall safely. Not succeeding, he flew to FAPM over the most remote areas to minimize risk. Somewhere over the Tugela river area, the oleo assembly departed the aircraft. After coordinating with air traffic control and an airline pilot, a wheels-up landing was performed on Runway 16. The pilot touched down on the threshold, and the aircraft skidded approximately 130 meters before coming to a halt.
Probable Cause
The pilot was obliged to execute a wheels-up landing when the right-hand main oleo strut assembly departed the aircraft shortly after take-off. The oleo strut assembly failure could be attributed to the failure of the snap ring Part No. 484 685 that secures the oleo within the trunnion assembly.