Jabiru J430 Runway Excursion at Cape St Francis (ZU-IXU)

Overview and Flight Details On 8 January 2025, a Jabiru J430 aircraft, registration ZU-IXU, was operating a private flight from Cape St Francis Aerodrome (FACF) in the Eastern Cape Province to Rustenburg Aerodrome (FARG) in the North West Province. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and two passengers. The pilot had planned an intermediate refueling stop at New Tempe Aerodrome (FATP) in the Free State Province. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) during the day in accordance with Part 94 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011. ## Sequence of Events The pilot reported that a pre-flight inspection was completed without abnormalities and the flight folio showed no outstanding defects. Due to a surface wind blowing from the west at 17 knots, the pilot elected to take off on the 1,200-meter grass-covered Runway 28. During the take-off roll, the aircraft accelerated to an indicated airspeed of approximately 50 knots. The pilot stated that he lost directional control as the aircraft veered to the left. Although he attempted to correct the deviation using the right rudder pedal, the action was insufficient to return the aircraft to the runway centerline. ## Damage and Injuries The aircraft exited the runway and moved onto the adjacent grass area. During this sequence, the nose gear strut collapsed and the propeller struck the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, the nose wheel, and the right undercarriage. None of the three occupants on board were injured. ## Investigation Findings The investigation determined that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and a Class 2 medical certificate. The aircraft was airworthy, with a valid Authority-to-fly (ATF) Certificate and a Certificate of Release to Service (C of S). The 100-hour inspection had been completed on 12 December 2024, and the aircraft's weight and balance were within limits. The report noted that torque reaction during the take-off roll can induce a turning moment around the vertical axis, which is typically corrected by the pilot's use of the rudder. ## Conclusion The investigation concluded that the pilot lost directional control during the take-off roll due to a failure to adequately compensate for the engine torque effect. The pilot's corrective actions were not sufficient to prevent the aircraft from veering off the runway. No contributing factors or safety actions were identified in the final report.