What happened
On the afternoon of 29 June 2024, a Cessna 180H Skywagon, registration ZS-LOU, departed from Caledon Ville Farm Airstrip in the Western Cape for a flight to Diemerskraal Airfield. The aircraft was operating under private (Part 91) regulations with a pilot and two passengers on board.
Shortly after takeoff, as the aircraft climbed to approximately 300 feet above ground level, the pilot attempted to level off the plane. However, the aircraft maintained a steep nose-up attitude despite the pilot applying full forward pressure on the yoke and adjusting the trim to the maximum nose-down position. Realizing the elevator was unresponsive, the pilot executed a right bank to direct the nose downward and searched for a suitable landing site. After locating an open field, the pilot retracted the flaps and performed a controlled, flapless landing. There were no injuries to the occupants, and the aircraft sustained only minor damage.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft following the emergency landing. The inquiry examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the plane had undergone a mandatory periodic inspection in April 2024, roughly 24 hours prior to the event. The pilot was found to be properly licensed and experienced for the operation.
Post-flight inspections of the airframe identified a specific mechanical failure in the tail section. Investigators determined that the right side of the tailwheel torque tube had sheared and separated from its assembly. This separation caused the right saddle portion of the assembly to press against the elevator control pushrod, physically obstructing its movement.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the shearing and separation of the right-side tailwheel torque tube.
- This structural failure caused the tailwheel assembly to press against the elevator control pushpad, which jammed the elevator in the up position and prevented the pilot from leveling the aircraft.