What happened
On 10 October 2021, a pilot was operating a Zodiac 601 UL, registration ZU-CGHD, on a private flight under Part 94 regulations. The flight departed from Morning Star Airfield with the intention of landing at the Altona Farm private airstrip in the Western Cape. Weather conditions during the flight were reported as fine.
While performing the landing roll in an easterly direction, the aircraft drifted to the right of the runway. The pilot was unable to correct the deviation, causing the aircraft to veer off the landing strip and roll into nearby crops. The aircraft sustained minor damage, specifically to the nose gear and propeller, but the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
Because the event was a limited investigation, the SACAA AIID relied on information provided by the pilot and the involved parties. Following the excursion, a post-flight inspection conducted by the pilot revealed that the right-side tyre had deflated. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing roll and the mechanical state of the aircraft's landing gear.
Findings
The primary cause of the loss of directional control during the landing roll was a deflated right-side tyre.