History of Flight
On Monday, 3 January 2022, a Jetstream 41 aircraft with registration ZS-NRJ was conducting a scheduled commercial flight under Part 121 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations. The flight departed from O.R. Tambo International Airport (FAOR) in Gauteng province to Venetia Mine Airfield (FAVM) in Limpopo province. Onboard were three crew members (two pilots and one cabin crew) and four passengers. The flight was operated under instrument flight rules (IFR) by day. A safety briefing was conducted by the cabin crew before departure.
After takeoff, the aircraft climbed to flight level 210 (FL210). Approximately 15 nautical miles from FAVM during descent, the first officer (FO) made a radio call to the airfield attendant on VHF 124.80 MHz, advising of their imminent landing. The attendant performed a runway inspection and confirmed the runway was clear. The aircraft was observed on final approach and touched down on Runway 08.
During the landing roll at a ground speed of approximately 43 knots, a large bird (Kori Bustard) became airborne from the right side of the runway, where grass was overgrown, and flew towards the aircraft. Subsequently, one of the right-side engine propeller blades struck the bird.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The occupants—two pilots, one cabin crew, and four passengers—were unharmed.
Probable Cause and Contributory Factors
The investigation determined the probable cause: "A bird strike on the propeller blade caused the overload fracture and separation failure of the blade."
Contributory factors identified were:
- Inadequate control of wildlife at the airfield.
- Inadequate number of trained personnel to monitor and deter possible wildlife during aircraft operations.
Investigation
The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) was notified and classified the occurrence as an accident. Notifications were sent to the State of Registry and the State of Design and Manufacturer (AAIB). Investigators were dispatched to the accident site.