Introduction
On 6 May 2024, a Sling 2 LSA aircraft with registration ZU-WES was involved in an accident at Pietermaritzburg Airport (FAPM), KwaZulu-Natal Province. The aircraft sustained minor damage, and the two occupants were unscathed. The South African Civil Aviation Authority conducted a limited occurrence investigation.
Flight Details
The aircraft, operated under Part 94 of the Civil Aviation Regulations, departed from FAPM on a private flight for local hour building. The pilot held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and was qualified to conduct the flight. The pilot performed pre-flight checks with no anomalies reported. The outbound flight was uneventful.
Landing and Damage
Upon returning to FAPM for landing on Runway 16, the approach speed was approximately 70 knots. The aircraft touched down hard with the nose wheel first, followed by the main wheels. During this event, the propeller struck the ground and the right main wheel fairing separated. The aircraft veered right and came to a stop on the grass facing west. Minor damage was noted; the pilot and passenger exited without injury.
Investigation Findings
The investigation confirmed the pilot's licence was valid, the aircraft's Certificate of Release to Service was current, and no defects were recorded in the flight folio. Weather conditions were not a factor; the crosswind component was well within the aircraft's limits. The investigation found that the pilot's total flying experience was 90.6 hours, with 4.2 hours on type in the previous 90 days.
Probable Cause
The probable cause was an unstable approach which resulted in the aircraft landing hard with the nose wheel first, followed by the main wheels; consequently, the right main wheel fairing separated and the propeller struck the ground. A contributing factor was poor landing technique.