What happened
On 02 July 2014, a Sling 2 aircraft, registration ZU-IAE, was involved in a landing incident at Port Elizabeth Aerodrome (FAPE) in the Eastern Cape. The aircraft, operated by Madiba Bay School of Flight CC, was being flown by a student pilot on a solo training mission. After an uneventful flight through the general flying area, the aircraft began its approach to Runway 08.
During the final approach, the aircraft was traveling at an insufficient airspeed while facing a significant crosswind component of 25 knots. Upon touching down, the aircraft bounced, leading to a loss of control. In the subsequent attempt to stabilize the aircraft, the nose gear struck the runway first and collapsed. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the propeller, the nose gear, and the undercarriage skins. The student pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the pilot, the aircraft, and the environmental conditions at the time of the event. The pilot, who was also the owner of the aircraft, held the appropriate licenses and ratings for the flight. The Sling 2 was found to be in a proper state of maintenance, possessing a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration, with no mechanical defects reported before or after the incident.
Meteorological data confirmed that while visibility was good (CAVOK), the aircraft was operating in challenging wind conditions, specifically a 25-knot crosswind. The investigation focused on the interaction between the aircraft's low approach speed and these environmental factors.