Jabiru J430 Landing Gear Failure During Training Flight

Casualties unknown • During the landing roll on Runway 27 at Rhino Park Airfield, Gauteng, ZA

A training flight at Rhino Park Aerodrome resulted in substantial damage to a Jabiru J430 after a hard landing caused the landing gear to collapse.

What happened

On 7 August 2024, a flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting circuit training at Rhino Park Aerodrome in Gauteng Province. The flight, operating under Part 1-41 regulations, involved take-offs and landings in visual meteorological conditions. After successfully completing two circuits in the Jabiru J430, registration ZU-NEE, the aircraft experienced a significant incident during its third approach.

During the landing roll on Runway 27, the aircraft struck the runway with excessive force. This hard impact caused the left main landing gear strut to delaminate and fail. Consequently, the nose gear detached from the airframe, and the propeller made contact with the ground. The aircraft veered several meters to the left of the runway centerline before coming to a stop. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the occupants.

The investigation

SACAA AIID examined the mechanical and operational aspects of the occurrence. Investigators confirmed that the weather conditions were favorable, with a light crosswind of approximately 5.64 knots, well within the aircraft's operational limits. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the subsequent structural failure of the landing gear.

Technical inspections of the Jabiru J430 revealed that the left main gear had undergone delamination following the impact. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history, noting that the aircraft had recently undergone a 25-hour inspection and was within its valid authority-to-fly period.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was a hard landing resulting from improper airspeed and power management by the student pilot, who initiated the flare too early.
  • The flight instructor was unable to intervene in time to correct the student's flight path.
  • The structural failure of the left main landing gear was a direct consequence of the high-impact landing.
  • Both the instructor and the student pilot were properly licensed and medically qualified for the training flight.
  • Meteorological conditions were not a contributing factor to the accident.

Probable cause

The aircraft suffered a landing gear collapse and runway excursion because the student pilot performed an improper flare, leading to a high-impact landing.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2024-08-07 Shadow Lite; Jabiru J430 accident near During the landing roll on Runway 27 at Rhino Park Airfield, Gauteng, ZA?

A training flight at Rhino Park Aerodrome resulted in substantial damage to a Jabiru J430 after a hard landing caused the landing gear to collapse.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-08-07 involved a Shadow Lite; Jabiru J430, registration ZU-NEE, at During the landing roll on Runway 27 at Rhino Park Airfield, Gauteng, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft suffered a landing gear collapse and runway excursion because the student pilot performed an improper flare, leading to a high-impact landing.

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