What happened
On 27 December 2014, a Jabiru J430, registration ZU-MEG, was conducting a private flight from Brits Aerodrome to Eagle Creek private airfield in Gauteng Province. During the landing phase on Runway 26, the pilot's view of the runway centerline was obstructed by intense sunlight. As the aircraft rolled along the runway, it veered toward the left edge.
The aircraft's left wheel entered an erosion furrow at the runway's edge, which sheared the brake hydraulic pipe and rendered the braking system inoperable. The aircraft continued along the shoulder, encountering further erosion furrows and debris. The impact with a rubbish heap caused both the nose landing gear and the left main landing gear to separate from the airframe. The aircraft's nose dropped to the ground, and it skidded to a halt. The incident resulted in one minor injury to a passenger, while the pilot remained unhurt.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the airfield conditions at Eagle Creek. The investigation confirmed that the Jabiru J430 was airworthy and maintained according to regulations prior to departure. Investigators noted that the airfield, which is an unmanned facility, had suffered damage to its runway edges due to heavy seasonal rains, resulting in the presence of erosion furrows and rubbish heaps.
Analysis of the landing sequence revealed that the pilot was unable to align the aircraft with the centerline due to sun glare. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's choice of runway. While Runway 08 was available, the pilot had avoided it because of fill material present on that runway's threshold, opting instead for Runway 26.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the pilot's vision being obscured by sunlight during the final approach and landing roll.
- The loss of braking capability was a direct result of the hydraulic pipe being severed when the wheel hit an erosion furrow.
- The separation of the landing gear was caused by the aircraft colliding with debris on the runway shoulder.
- The pilot's decision to use Runway 26 instead of Runway 08 was a contributing factor, as landing further down the longer Runway 08 might have prevented the excursion.