What happened
On 30 January 2012, a Cessna 210 Centurion, registration ZS-M0KN, was taxiing for departure at Welgevondenfontein West Aerodrome in Gauteng. The pilot was performing a private visual flight rules (VFR) operation intended for a local scenic flight. While taxiing on Runway 27, the aircraft's right-hand main wheel struck a furrow in the runway surface. This impact caused the pilot to lose control, leading the aircraft to veer toward the right side of the runway. As the aircraft moved off the paved surface, the nose wheel also entered the same furrow, causing the nose section to drop abruptly. This motion resulted in the propeller striking the ground, causing damage to the propeller blades. There were zero fatalities and zero injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the pilot was properly licensed and rated for the flight, and the aircraft held a valid certificate of airworthiness and registration. The aircraft had been properly maintained, with no mechanical defects reported prior to or following the event. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK) with calm winds and a temperature of 22°C.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the presence of a furrow on the runway surface.
- This surface defect was created by heavy rain that had fallen several days prior to the incident.
- The impact of the nose wheel into the furrow caused the sudden drop of the aircraft's nose, leading to the propeller strike.