What happened
On 3 December 2022, an Atlas Angel AL-60C4M Kudu, registration ZS-WZP, departed from Skydive the Ranch Airfield in Mpumalanga province for a skydiving flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and nine passengers under visual meteorological conditions.
During the take-off roll, just before the aircraft reached rotation speed, the pilot experienced a loss of directional control. This resulted in the left horizontal stabiliser making contact with a fence post. Despite the impact, the pilot elected to continue the flight, climbing to 11,000 feet to drop off the skydivers. Following the completion of the jump operations, the pilot proceeded to Wonderboom Airport in Gauteng to undergo inspections. The pilot had previously notified air traffic control of the incident and requested fire and rescue services to be on standby for the landing. The aircraft landed safely at Wonderboom Airport, where it sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabiliser.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of control on the runway. The investigation reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the annual inspection had been completed earlier in the year and the aircraft was within its weight limits for takeoff. The investigation also analyzed weather data from both the airfield and the nearby Witbank Airfield, as well as the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH).
Findings
- The pilot lost directional control during the takeoff phase, leading to the collision with the fence post.
- The pilot suggested that over-correction for a crosswind or a sudden gust may have contributed to the deviation, though official weather reports indicated calm conditions at the time of departure.
- The aircraft's design features a known tendency to swing to the left during the initial stages of the takeoff run, which requires active rudder control.
- The pilot chose to continue the flight after the impact, believing it was the safest course of action given the circumstances.