What happened
On the morning of 27 May 2024, a Sling 4TSI aircraft, registration ZU-WNW, was involved in a landing accident at Virginia Aerodrome (FAVG) in KwaZulu-Natal. The flight was being conducted as a training exercise under Part 1ob provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
Following several successful circuit-and-landing exercises, the student pilot attempted a second touch-and-go landing on Runway 23. During the final approach, the pilot configured the aircraft with 30 degrees of flaps while maintaining a speed of approximately 75 knots. Upon touchdown, the aircraft struck the runway on its nose gear first. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, leading the propeller to strike the runway surface. The aircraft subsequently veered right and came to rest in the grass area adjacent to the runway. The student pilot escaped the incident without injury, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the operational environment. Investigators confirmed that the prevailing winds were 210 degrees at 10 knots, which was well within the aircraft's 15-knot operational limit.
Review of the aircraft's maintenance records showed that the Sling 4TSI was within its inspection intervals, with the last 50-hour inspection completed at 62.3 hours. At the time of the accident, the airframe had recorded 127 total hours. The investigation also verified the student pilot's credentials, noting a valid Student Private Pilot Licence and a current Class 2 medical certificate. No mechanical defects were noted in the flight records prior to the occurrence.