Accident Overview
On 10 October 2024, at approximately 0940Z, a Yakovlev Yak 52 aircraft, registration ZU-CWK, sustained substantial damage during a taxi incident at Kimberley Aerodrome (FAKM) in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. The pilot and one passenger were not injured.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was being taxied from the apron to Runway 02 for departure on a private flight to De Aar Aerodrome (FADA). The pilot had requested taxi clearance and was instructed to backtrack on Runway 02, which is 3 kilometres long, and wait for departure clearance. During the taxi, a strong tailwind from the north (recorded as 35015KT at 0900Z, with gusts up to 26 knots at 1000Z) caused the aircraft to travel at high speed. The pilot reported that the brakes felt ineffective and that he had to apply continuous braking to maintain normal taxi speed. As the aircraft neared the Runway 02 threshold, the pilot noticed the speed was too high and decided to shut down the engine to slow down, intending to make a 180° left turn onto the turning area (located on the right side) to align with the runway. However, the brakes were ineffective, and the aircraft could not stop or complete the turn. The pilot attempted to use the rudder pedals for steering, but they were also ineffective. The aircraft then exited the turning area, careered westward, and struck a perimeter fence before coming to a stop. The propeller and lower part of the vertical stabiliser were damaged. The pilot reported the occurrence to the air traffic control tower and requested emergency services.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, a Yak 52 (serial number 882807), had a valid Authority-to-Fly certificate issued on 25 March 2024, expiring 31 March 2025. Its last annual inspection was on 21 February 2024 at 920.1 airframe hours; the accident occurred at 926.6 airframe hours. The brakes were checked during that inspection and found satisfactory. The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and a Class 1 medical certificate. He had 6.4 total hours on the Yak 52 type.
Findings
The investigation found that the aircraft was backtracked for more than 2 kilometres at high speed due to the tailwind, resulting in brake overheating and loss of efficiency. When the pilot switched off the engine during a left turn, the aircraft could not be controlled and veered off the runway into the perimeter fence.
Probable Cause
The tailwind propelled the aircraft to taxi at a high speed and the brakes overheated and became ineffective. The aircraft veered off the runway during a left turn and impacted a perimeter fence.
Contributing Factor
The pilot's inability to maintain the recommended taxi speed was identified as a contributing factor.
Safety Actions
No safety actions or recommendations were issued as part of this limited investigation.