What happened
On 14 September 2007, a Boeing 737-200, registration ZS-SIL, was operating an international scheduled flight from OR Tambo International Aerodrome in Johannesburg to Ndola International Aerodrome in Zambia. The aircraft was carrying 36 passengers and 7 crew members.
Upon landing on Runway 10L at Ndola, the aircraft was in the process of its landing roll when a structural failure occurred in the aft cabin. Two cabin crew members, who were properly secured in their assigned seats, experienced a sudden collapse of their seats toward the left side of the aircraft. Once the aircraft had reached a full stop, the crew inspected the area and discovered that the top attachment point of the left-hand link arm had detached from the fuselage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the physical damage to the cabin interior. Records indicated that the aircraft had recently undergone an 'A' check inspection, which was certified on 12 September 2007, by an approved maintenance organisation. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had flown only 1.95 hours since that inspection was completed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the left-hand link arm attachment at its connection to the fuselage.
- The incident resulted in one injury, specifically a cabin crew member who sustained a broken neck. The injury required surgical intervention and the crew member was transported to a hospital following the aircraft's return to South Africa.
- No other passengers or crew members sustained injuries during the event.
- The maintenance organisation responsible for the most recent inspection held valid approval certificates.