What happened
On the morning of 1 January 2025, a Piper PA-36-285 Pawnee Brave, registered ZS-LUG, was conducting agricultural spraying operations at Kirkwood Airstrip in the Eastern Cape. After successfully completing seven spray runs, the pilot returned to the airstrip to reload chemicals.
During the landing on Runway 22, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure approximately 300 metres into the landing roll. The right main landing gear separated from the fuselage, causing the aircraft to veer sharply to the right. As the aircraft swung, the propeller and the right wing tip made contact with the ground. The pilot, who was uninjured, was able to disembark from the aircraft without assistance. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting the propeller, right wing, landing gear, and the spray boom.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID focused on the mechanical failure of the undercarriage. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the last mandatory periodic inspection had been performed in October 2024. The pilot was found to be fully licensed with a valid medical certificate.
Technical analysis centered on the component that failed during the landing roll. The investigation looked into the structural integrity of the landing gear assembly and the specific hardware used to secure it to the fuselage. The investigation also considered the possibility of wear or fatigue on the hardware, noting that the specific bolt in question is an on-condition item requiring inspection every 50 hours, though its location is concealed and difficult to assess during standard pre-flight checks.