Accident
On 3 June 2022 at approximately 0925Z, a Cessna T206H aircraft, registration 2-ELLY, departed from Hoedspruit Civil Aerodrome (FAHT) in Limpopo Province on a private flight under Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The intended destination was Ximuwu Private Airstrip in Klaserie, Mpumalanga Province. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
According to the pilot, upon arrival at the airstrip she prepared for landing by testing the footbrakes and feeling for pressure, with satisfactory results. She joined the traffic pattern for a full stop landing on Runway 09. After touchdown at a ground speed of approximately 70 knots, she applied the brakes to slow the aircraft, but the brakes did not respond. The aircraft overshot the runway threshold and came to rest against a large shrub on the eastern side of the airstrip. The right wing and propeller sustained substantial damage. The pilot and the single passenger were not injured.
Findings
Examination of the aircraft after recovery to the owner's hangar revealed that the right-side brake line connecting the cylinder to the brake caliper had snapped. The left-side brake line was intact. The Cessna T206H aircraft and systems description notes that if one brake fails, the other should be used sparingly with opposite rudder to compensate.
The private airstrip is 947 meters long; the required landing distance for a Cessna T206H is 224 meters. The accident aircraft touched down 415 meters beyond the runway threshold, leaving 532 meters of remaining runway. The pilot reported an approach speed of approximately 70 knots, which is within the recommended range of 70 to 80 knots with flaps. However, the aircraft landed deep, and the pilot was unable to bring it to a stop. It could not be determined why the aircraft could not stop on the runway despite sufficient remaining distance. The damage to the brake line was attributed to the overshoot.
The aircraft was registered in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Its last 50-hour oil inspection was on 7 March 2022 at 3596.10 Hobbs hours, with a Certificate of Release to Service valid until 7 March 2023 or 3646.1 Hobbs hours. The aircraft had 5 Hobbs hours remaining before the next inspection. During that inspection, all three wheel assemblies were replaced. The pilot held a Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) and had 641.1 total flying hours, with 467.1 hours on type.