What happened
On 22 October 2021, a pilot operating a VL-3 Flamingo, registration ZU-FLA, departed from Nelsproll Aerodrome for a private flight to Geelbos Farm Private Airstrip in Mpumalanga. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions without a filed flight plan.
While approaching Runway 18 at the destination, the pilot was managing a wind speed of approximately 13 to 15 knots. As the aircraft crossed the threshold, it experienced a sudden loss of altitude, leading to a heavy touchdown and an initial bounce. Although the pilot considered a go-around, the decision was made to continue the landing due to a significant loss of airspeed. Following two subsequent bounces, a third heavy impact occurred. The pilot attempted to maintain control by wheelbarrowing the aircraft, but the left main landing gear and the nose gear collapsed. This caused the nose to drop and the propeller to strike the ground as the left wing scraped the gravel surface. The aircraft came to a stop roughly 102 metres from the initial contact point. The pilot disembarked from the aircraft without assistance and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid National Pilot Licence and the necessary medical certification. The aircraft's maintenance records showed a valid Release to Service Certificate was in place at the time of the event. The investigation focused on the sequence of the touchdown and the pilot's decision-making regarding the unstable approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot flared the aircraft too high, which induced ballooning and a subsequent hard landing.
- The aircraft underwent multiple bounces before the final impact.
- The structural failure of the left main landing gear and the nose gear led to the propeller strike and substantial damage to the airframe.