What happened
On 4 October 2024, a private scenic flight operating under Part 94 regulations ended in an accident at Tedderfield Aerodrome (FATA) in Gauteng. The pilot was operating a JMB Aircraft VL 3 Evolution, registration ZU-ORI, intending to return to the aerodrome after an uneventful flight.
As the pilot prepared to land on Runway 11, a crosswind from the right was present. During the flare phase, a gust of wind from the right side caused the aircraft to drift left of the runway centerline. This resulted in a hard touchdown on the nose wheel, followed by a bounce. During the second, even harder impact, the nose gear strut failed, causing the propeller to strike the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the aircraft's technical status. The investigation confirmed that the ZU-ORI was airworthy and had a valid Authority-to-fly. The aircraft was relatively new, with only 36 total flight hours.
Investigators reviewed weather data, noting that while the official SAWS report from nearby FAOR did not indicate gusting conditions, the pilot experienced a specific gust during the landing sequence. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's demonstrated maximum crosswind capability is 9 knots, while the calculated crosswind at the time of the accident was approximately 7.07 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a wind gust from the right that disrupted the pilot's control during the landing flare, leading to a loss of directional stability.
- The sequence of events—a hard initial touchdown followed by a secondary bounce—directly led to the structural failure of the nose gear strut and the subsequent propeller strike.