What happened
On 6 October 2021, a S10 powered glider, registered ZS-GSW, was participating in an air race competition at Potchefstroom Aerodrome (FAPS). The flight, conducted under Part 91 regulations, involved a pilot and one passenger flying in visual meteorological conditions. After completing the race course, the aircraft attempted to land on Runway 03.
During the final approach, the aircraft encountered turbulence and a sudden wind gust. This disturbance destabilized the approach, leading to a heavy impact on the runway. The left main landing gear struck the surface with significant force, causing the main-tube assembly to fracture and the shock absorbers to bend. The pilot was able to bring the aircraft to a complete stop, and there were no injuries reported.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical state and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Data from the South African Weather Service indicated that at 1400Z, the wind was coming from the north at 8 knots, with gusts reaching 19 knots. This was significant as the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the S10 specifies a maximum demonstrated crosswind of 16 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the landing gear failure was a wind gust encountered during the landing approach.
- The impact of the landing was severe enough to cause substantial damage to the aircraft's landing gear structure.
- The recorded wind gusts of 19 knots exceeded the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind limit of 16 knots.