What happened
On 7 January 2018, a solo pilot operating a Kitplanes for Africa Bushbaby 450, registration ZU-BAJ, was performing circuit training at FASC. While accelerating down runway 29, the pilot initiated a rotation attempt before the aircraft had reached the necessary rotation speed. This premature action caused the right wing and the right main landing gear to lift off the runway surface while the left side remained grounded.
In an effort to maintain control and avoid a stall, the pilot reduced throttle and pushed the control stick forward to bring the aircraft back down. This maneuver caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch downward, resulting in the propeller, spinner, and engine cowling striking the runway surface. The aircraft skidded approximately 10 meters along the runway before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID confirmed that the pilot held a valid national pilot’s licence with the appropriate type endorsement and a current medical certificate. The aircraft, ZU-BAJ, was found to have a valid Authority to Fly and had been maintained according to required standards. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were clear with good visibility (CAVOK) and light winds.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the incident was the pilot's premature attempt to rotate the aircraft before reaching the required takeoff speed. This imbalance in lift caused the asymmetric lift-off of the right wing and main gear, leading to the subsequent nose-down impact with the runway.