Taildragger ground loop causes substantial damage to Safari LSA

Casualties unknown • Hoek Van Spruit Se Vloer Pan gravel airstrip, 5nm north of Verneukpan, Northern Cape, ZA

A private flight in the Northern Cape ended in an aircraft ground loop after a hard landing, resulting in significant damage to a Safari LSA.

What happened

On 17 September 2022, a Safari LSA, registration ZU-IIX, was conducting a private flight departing from the Hoek Van Spruit Se Vloer Pan Airstrip in the Northern Cape. The flight, which was intended to be a local circuit returning to the same gravel airstrip, proceeded without incident for approximately 30 minutes under visual meteorological conditions.

During the landing phase, the pilot approached the runway at 55 knots with full flaps. Upon touchdown, the aircraft hit the surface hard on all three landing gears and subsequently bounced. This impact led to a loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to ground loop toward the left side of the airstrip. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot moved the control column to the right, but the aircraft continued its path, causing the right-side landing gear, right-wing tip, and the right-wing front spar to strike the ground. The propeller also made contact with the surface before the aircraft came to a halt. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The investigation

SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the pilot's recent flying history. The investigation reviewed the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) for the Safari LSA, which provides specific instructions for landing procedures, including techniques to prevent bouncing by managing flap settings and stick position. The investigators also reviewed the pilot's regulatory compliance regarding flight currency.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft landed hard and ground looped following touchdown, leading to a total loss of directional control.
  • A significant contributing factor was that the pilot lacked recent experience on the aircraft type, having not operated a taildragger aircraft for six months.
  • The pilot was in violation of Civil Aviation Regulations Part 91.02.4 (1), as she had not performed the required number of take-offs and landings within the preceding 90 days to maintain currency for this class of aircraft.
  • While the landing speed was within the parameters of the POH, the pilot did not follow the recommended procedure of reducing flaps to increase weight on the tail to arrest the bounce tendency.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced a hard landing and subsequent bounce, which triggered a ground loop and loss of directional control.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-09-17 SAFARI LSA accident near Hoek Van Spruit Se Vloer Pan gravel airstrip, 5nm north of Verneukpan, Northern Cape, ZA?

A private flight in the Northern Cape ended in an aircraft ground loop after a hard landing, resulting in significant damage to a Safari LSA.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-09-17 involved a SAFARI LSA, registration ZU-IIX, at Hoek Van Spruit Se Vloer Pan gravel airstrip, 5nm north of Verneukpan, Northern Cape, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft experienced a hard landing and subsequent bounce, which triggered a ground loop and loss of directional control.

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