What happened
On 19 March 2022, a private flight operating under visual flight rules departed from Brits Airfield in the North West province, destined for Sterkfontein Airfield. The aircraft, an Oscar Partenavia P64B with registration ZS-FSH, landed successfully on the grass Runway 02.
While the pilot was taxiing the aircraft toward the hangar, the nose landing gear became lodged in a mongoose burrow. The impact caused the gear to bend backward, leading the propeller to strike the ground. The pilot immediately shut down the engine and exited the aircraft to assess the situation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically to the propeller, the firewall, and the nose landing and gear assembly. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
An investigation into the occurrence established that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current medical certificate. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that the last annual inspection had been completed approximately 12 airframe hours prior to the accident, and no mechanical defects had been reported leading up to the event.
Investigators examined the environment at Sterkfontein Airfield, noting that the facility is situated on a large farm and lacks perimeter fencing or walls. The investigation confirmed that mongoose burrows are prevalent across the various runways at this location. Physical evidence, including grass found in the nose section scoop, supported the conclusion that the nose wheel had sunk into a burrow. The pilot noted that while he attempted to close known burrows before flights, the animals frequently reopened them.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the nose landing gear becoming caught in a mongoose burrow.
- The structural failure of the gear caused the propeller to make contact with the ground.
- The presence of active mongoose burrows on the unsealed runway surfaces at Sterkfontein Airfield presented a significant operational hazard.