What happened
On the morning of 21 April 2024, a Cessna 402C, registration ZS-NVE, was operating a commercial charter flight from Lanseria International Airport to the Kalahari Lion Safari Airfield. The flight, carrying a pilot and four passengers, was conducted under instrument flight rules.
Following a successful landing on the asphalt runway, the pilot attempted to perform a 180-degree turn. During the maneuver, the aircraft moved beyond the paved surface into a dirt area. In an attempt to steer the aircraft back onto the asphalt, the pilot applied full throttle. During this acceleration, the right-side main wheel became embedded in soft sand. While the pilot reduced power to prevent further movement, the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the propeller blades to strike the ground. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the occupants, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the mechanical failure and the circumstances of the taxi maneuver. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was medically fit and held a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that a mandatory periodic inspection had been completed recently, and the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
Technical inspection of the wreckage revealed that the trunnion pin on the left-side nose gear had failed. The investigation established that this component broke due to an overload condition occurring while the aircraft was traversing the unpaved surface.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the breaking of the left-side nose gear trunnion pin due to overload.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's application of excessive power to extract the aircraft from the soft sand, which placed undue stress on the landing gear structure.