What happened
On the morning of 7 December 2024, a private flight departing from Dundee Airfield toward Ladysmith Airport encountered a critical mechanical failure during its approach. While flying the downwind leg for Runway 11, the pilot of the Cessna 177RG, registration ZS-NDO, attempted to extend the landing gear but noticed the green indication light failed to illuminate.
Upon visual inspection via the wing mirror, the pilot discovered that while the nose gear had deployed, the main landing gear remained only partially extended. Despite multiple attempts to cycle the gear and an effort to use the emergency hydraulic extension pump, the main gear would not lock into place. Faced with the inability to secure the undercarriage, the pilot executed a planned belly landing. During the touchdown on Runway 11, the propeller struck the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft's underbelly and propeller. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID focused on the mechanical state of the landing gear assembly. Post-accident inspections at a maintenance facility revealed that the hydraulic system itself was fully operational. However, the investigation established that the mechanical link between the hydraulic actuator and the gear pinion assembly had been severed.
Technical examination of the component identified a failure in the threaded rod end of the actuator. Investigators found that a crack had formed between the last thread cut and the rod end head. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had not yet reached the hour threshold required for the specific supplemental inspection mandated by the manufacturer's service instructions.