What happened
On the morning of 2 May 2022, a Jabiru J450 with registration ZU-DPD departed Springs Aerodrome in Gauteng for a flight to Cullinan. The flight, conducted under visual meteorological conditions, proceeded without incident until the return leg. During the landing roll on Runway 03 at Springs Aerodrome, the aircraft began veering toward the left side of the runway.
The pilot attempted to correct the deviation by applying right rudder, which briefly returned the aircraft to the centerline. However, the aircraft veered left once more, resulting in a total loss of control. In an attempt to stop the movement, the pilot engaged the parking brake, but the aircraft continued off the runway and into a water runoff area. The impact caused the nose gear strut to break due to structural overload and resulted in the propeller striking the ground. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped the 0 fatalities incident without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of control. The investigation confirmed 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 in December 2021, and the aircraft was within its valid period for a Certificate of Release to Service.
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft's flight controls revealed that the rudder pedal system was functioning normally. No mechanical defects had been reported or noted in the aircraft's flight logs prior to or during the flight in question.