What happened
On 31 July 2024, a pilot was ferrying a Jabiru SP, registration ZU-CKU, from Rhino Park Airfield to Kitty Hawk Airfield in Gauteng under visual meteorological conditions. The flight was conducted as a private operation under Part 94 regulations.
During the initial approach to Runway 01, the pilot touched down too far down the runway, necessitating a go-around due to an unstable approach. On the subsequent landing attempt, the aircraft successfully touched down at the correct position. However, the pilot reported that the braking system failed to respond as expected, causing the aircraft to continue rolling down the runway.
In an attempt to stop the aircraft, the pilot steered the plane toward the right to exit the runway onto the grass. During this maneuver, the nose gear struck an unseen ditch, causing the wooden propeller to impact the ground and sustain substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured in the incident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators and an approved person inspected the aircraft's braking system following the accident. The investigation confirmed that the brakes were in good working order and could effectively hold the aircraft stationary when the manual brakes and emergency park brake were engaged.
While the hydraulic reservoir was found to be half-full and the brake lines appeared intact, investigators noted potential signs of air gaps or leaks within the system. The brake pads and tires were found to be in an acceptable condition. The investigation also noted the physical characteristics of the airfield, specifically that Runway 01 features a downward slope of approximately 32 feet from the midpoint to the end of the 900-meter strip.
Findings
- The pilot had recently completed a type conversion, with only 2.9 hours of experience on this specific aircraft type.
- The pilot had more previous flight experience on aircraft utilizing rudder pedal (toe) brakes rather than the hand brake configuration of the Jabiru SP.
- The pilot likely applied the rudder pedals instead of the hand brake to attempt to decelerate the aircraft.