Incident Summary
On 2 July 2021, a Piper PA-28-140 aircraft, registration ZS-FEK, was involved in a serious incident during a solo training flight at Virginia Airfield (FAVG) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The flight was conducted under Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The student pilot was not injured, and the aircraft sustained minor damage.
Sequence of Events
An instructor and a student pilot initially conducted three touch-and-go circuits on Runway 05. After disembarking the aircraft, the instructor remained on the ground while the student pilot took off for a solo circuit. On landing, the student reported that the aircraft veered to the right after touchdown. To correct, the student initially applied power, then immediately reduced power and depressed the left rudder to steer left. However, directional control was lost, and the aircraft veered left, ground-looping approximately 180 degrees before coming to rest facing the opposite direction.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained minor damage to the nose gear during the incident. The student pilot was not injured.
Post-Incident Inspection
A post-incident inspection revealed no fault with the nose gear prior to the flight. The damage to the gear was attributed to the student pilot executing an incorrect technique during landing. It is likely that the student approached and touched down with the right rudder depressed, causing the initial veer to the right. The recovery technique—applying power and then immediately reducing power while applying left rudder—was incorrect.
Probable Cause
The student pilot touched down with the right rudder applied, which caused the aircraft to veer off to the right. The student pilot corrected the direction by steering to the left; however, control was lost and the aircraft veered off to the left side of the runway.