What happened
On the afternoon of 2 March 2024, a private flight departed from Klerksdorp Airfield in South Africa's North West province. The pilot was operating a Jabiru J430, registration ZU-FNS, with the intention of landing at Bona-Bona Airfield. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions during daylight hours.
After taking off and climbing to 6,500 feet, the pilot arrived at the unmanned Bona-Bona Airfield. Following an assessment of the windsock, the pilot opted to land on Runway 1t7. While the initial touchdown was reported as uneventful, the aircraft became difficult to manage during the landing roll. The pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to veer toward the left. The aircraft exited the runway and came to a stop on the grass, approximately 25 meters from the runway edge. The impact caused the left main wheel axle to bend and the propeller blade tips to strike the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the Jabiru J430 was airworthy, having undergone a 50-hour inspection less than ten hours prior to the flight. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current medical certificate.
Meteorological data indicated a crosswind component of approximately 8.46 knots from the right. This was well within the aircraft's demonstrated maximum crosswind capability of 14 knots. The investigation also noted that the landing site, Bona-Bona Airfield, is an unlicensed strip with an asphalt runway and no installed lighting.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the aircraft was likely unstable on final approach and experienced a hard landing. This impact was sufficient to bend the left main landing gear axle, which subsequently led to the loss of directional control and the excursion from the runway.