What happened
On 8 January 2025, a Jabiru J430 with registration ZU-IXU was preparing for a private flight from Cape St Francis Aerodrome (FACF) to Rustenburg Aerodrome (FARG). The flight plan included a refueling stop at New Tempe Aerodrome. The aircraft was operating under visual meteorological conditions with a pilot and two passengers on board.
During the takeoff roll on the grass-covered Runway 2 and 8, the aircraft reached an indicated airspeed of approximately 50 knots when the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft began veering toward the left side of the runway. Although the pilot attempted to correct the deviation by applying right rudder, the maneuver was unsuccessful. The aircraft exited the runway and entered a grass area, where the nose gear strut collapsed and the propeller struck the ground. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the propeller, nose wheel, and right undercarriage, though there were 0 fatalities and no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance and operational status. The investigation confirmed that the Jabiru J430 was airworthy at the time of departure, with a valid Authority-to-fly and a recent 100-hour inspection completed in December 2024. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and Class 2 medical certificate. Additionally, the aircraft's weight and balance calculations were found to be within permissible limits for the flight.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the loss of directional control during the takeoff roll. The pilot failed to adequately compensate for the engine torque effect, which induced a turning moment that caused the aircraft to veer left. The application of the right rudder was insufficient to maintain the aircraft on the runway centerline.