Accident Overview
On 11 November 2021 at 1250Z, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration ZS-CZU, was conducting a solo consolidation training flight under Part 141 at Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB), Gauteng Province. The aircraft was on the landing roll following a touch-and-go landing on Runway 29. The sole occupant, a student pilot, was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Sequence of Events
According to the student pilot, the first touch-and-go landing of the solo flight was uneventful. He then took off for a second circuit with no anomalies noted. During the second touch-and-go landing on Runway 29, the touchdown was normal until he attempted to add power for take-off on the third circuit. At that point, he felt a violent nose wheel shimmy. He immediately reduced power but lost directional control while trying to return to the centreline. The aircraft veered off to the left side of the runway. After exiting the asphalt runway edge, the nose landing gear’s steering tube assembly broke off, and the propeller struck the ground before the aircraft stopped approximately 15 metres from the runway edge.
Damage
The aircraft was substantially damaged. The nose gear steering tube assembly separated, and the propeller struck the ground. No injuries were reported.
Probable Cause
It is likely that the aircraft was unstable on approach, resulting in the aircraft landing on its nose wheel first, which broke off; the aircraft lost directional control and veered off to the left of the runway.