What happened
On 13 July 2013, a Piper J-5 Cruiser (registration ZU-FRB) was taxiing toward the runway at East London aerodrome in the Eastern Cape. The pilot was preparing for a private flight to a landing strip near Tarkastad. During the taxi maneuver, the starboard rudder cable detached from its fitting. In response to the mechanical failure, the pilot applied the brakes, which resulted in the aircraft pitching forward. This motion caused the propeller to strike the tarmac surface.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the starboard rudder cable pulled out of the attachment fitting just ahead of the connection point to the starboard rudder pedal. The aircraft, which had undergone its annual inspection only one day prior to the incident, sustained minor damage to the engine cowling, spinner, and propeller. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and that the aircraft's maintenance and equipment met all regulatory requirements. Meteorological conditions were clear, with no contributing weather factors identified.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was excessive braking by the pilot following the mechanical failure.
- A contributing factor was the failure of the starboard rudder cable, which disconnected from its attachment point during taxiing.
- The incident was considered an isolated case, as no similar occurrences were found in the investigation of other aircraft.