Occurrence Summary
On 30 December 2024 at 1255Z, a Jabiru J430 aircraft (registration ZU-LBD, serial number 940) operated by a private pilot under Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations departed from Kareedouw Aerodrome (FAKW) in the Eastern Cape province for a flight to Jeffreys Bay without landing, then returning to FAKW. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported a stable approach for Runway 28 at 70 knots indicated airspeed with flaps set at 30 degrees. Wind conditions included a tailwind of approximately 8 knots and a left crosswind of 1 knot. During landing, the aircraft was flared too high. When the pilot reduced the throttle to idle, the aircraft descended rapidly, resulting in a hard landing on the main landing gear. The aircraft bounced twice after touchdown, causing the nose gear strut to bend, the right main gear to collapse, and the propeller blades to strike the ground. The pilot lost directional control and the aircraft veered left off the runway before stopping. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose gear strut, right main gear, and propeller blades; the occupants were not injured. The accident occurred at GPS coordinates 33°56'38" S 024°17'25" E, elevation 952 feet, during daylight.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft total time was 352 hours. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence issued on 8 August 2024, with an expiry date of 31 July 2025, and a valid Class II aviation medical certificate issued on 11 April 2024. The pilot had 141.8 total flying hours, 49.5 hours on type, and 30.8 hours in the past 90 days. The aircraft was airworthy at dispatch; the last annual inspection was conducted on 29 November 2024 at 277.5 airframe hours, and the aircraft had accrued 74.5 hours since then. The runway used was Runway 28, an unpaved grass strip 750 metres long and 13 metres wide, with dry grass conditions.
Findings
The pilot was medically fit, qualified, and authorised. The aircraft was airworthy when dispatched. The wind component indicated a tailwind at landing, increasing landing speed by 8 knots. The pilot stated the landing speed was 70 knots, higher than the 65 knots recommended for normal landing in the Jabiru J430 Pilot's Operating Handbook. The stall speed with full flaps (below 70 KIAS) is approximately 40 knots. The pilot flared too high; after reducing power to idle, the aircraft dropped and touched down hard.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factor
The aircraft was flared too high during approach for landing and, upon touchdown, landed hard and bounced. This resulted in loss of directional control; consequently, the aircraft veered off to the left side of the runway. A contributing factor was the tailwind at the time of landing.