What happened
On 31 July 2021, a private flight operating under Part 94 regulations departed from Drakens and Gardens (FADZ) in KwaZulu-Natal, heading toward Barkley East (FABF) in the Eastern Cape. The flight was conducted during the day under visual meteorological conditions.
Upon arriving at the destination, the pilot performed two inspections of Runway 36. During the landing roll on the grass runway, the Bushbaby aircraft, registration ZU-DAS, drifted toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to manage the excursion, the pilot shut down the engine. However, as the aircraft continued to veer, the left wheel struck a shallow ditch. This impact caused the aircraft to tilt forward, resulting in the stationary propeller making contact with the ground.
The investigation
The investigation, which relied on information provided by the pilot and relevant organizations, examined the physical damage and the sequence of the landing roll. Post-accident inspections confirmed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Specifically, the axles for both the left and right main landing gear were bent due to the impact with the ditch. Additionally, the propeller was damaged during the forward tilt.
Following the incident, the aircraft was recovered to New Tempe for necessary repairs. Maintenance records indicated that the last annual inspection had been completed on 3 May 2021, with 14.8 flight hours accumulated since that service. Repairs included replacing the bent axles and the right-side wheel assembly, as well as servicing the brake system and balancing the tyre.