Incident Overview
On the evening of 5 October 2021 at approximately 1745Z, a training flight involving a Piper Seminole 44-180 aircraft, registration ZS-SWP, was conducted under Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations at Karoo Gateway (Beaufort West) Aerodrome (FABW) in the Western Cape province. The aircraft was occupied by a student pilot and an instructor. Weather conditions were clear at the time.
Flight Sequence
The student pilot, who held a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), was performing visual flight rules (VFR) night circuit-and-landing exercises on Runway 08 (RWY 08). The training aimed to accumulate hours toward a multi-engine rating. The student pilot was the pilot flying.
According to the instructor, the first touch-and-go was normal. Downwind checks were completed, and during the base leg turn, three green lights confirmed the landing gear was down. After an uneventful landing, the aircraft was configured for a second circuit. On final approach, flaps were set to stage two with 16 inches of manifold pressure (MP). Air traffic control (ATC) cleared the aircraft for touch-and-go and instructed the pilot to report on left downwind RWY 08 on frequency 125.6 MHz.
The student pilot landed the aircraft on the centerline. After touchdown, flaps were retracted. Both occupants scanned outside for the next exercise. The student pilot applied full throttle (26 inches MP) and announced rotation speed (Vr) at 75 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). As the nose gear lifted off and the main wheels were still on the ground, both the student pilot and instructor observed an antelope (duiker) crossing the runway from left to right. The instructor took control, raising the nose higher to lift off and avoid a collision. However, the nose wheel struck the antelope at approximately 75 to 80 knots.
Post-Impact Actions
After the impact, the instructor continued the take-off. He confirmed that engine temperatures and pressures remained within limits and that the landing gear stayed down. A neutral circuit was flown for about 20 minutes, after which the instructor notified ATC of the incident. A duty officer in response vehicle 1 (RV1) attended to the antelope, which was found dead on the runway and removed by the duty officer assisted by two fuel bay personnel.
Once the runway was cleared, the instructor performed a low-level fly-past over the tower and RV1 for visual confirmation of the nose gear. Due to low visibility at night, neither could confirm. The student pilot then shone a light on the left window to a mirror on the left engine, allowing the student to confirm the nose gear was down. The instructor landed the aircraft. During the landing roll, the instructor raised and held the flare while reducing throttles to idle and pulling the mixture to idle cut-off. After stopping, both occupants disembarked unassisted. The aircraft was pushed by hand via taxiway Charlie to the apron.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft sustained substantial damage in the nose section. Damage included aluminium extrusions along the lower spars, a sheared bolt attaching the drag link, the nose spar box structure flexed upward and cracked lengthwise, bent ribs on the nose support, sheared rivets attaching the spar box to the bottom skin, buckles on the left and right fuselage skin, a cracked and flaking drag link assembly, and cracked bushes attaching the drag link to the arm assembly. Both engines and propellers were undamaged, as was the carbon fibre nose cone. The aircraft was issued a special flight permit to reposition for repairs at an aircraft maintenance organization in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
Findings
The instructor held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and a Grade 3 Instructor Licence, both valid. The student pilot had a Student Pilot Licence Integrated Course (SPLIC) and had completed a CPL test on 29 September 2021. The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Release to Service were valid. The airport was licensed as a Category 1 aerodrome and had perimeter fencing; according to the airport manager, the antelope likely crawled under the fence, as no fence damage was visible.
Probable Cause
The aircraft’s nose landing gear impacted an antelope during take-off rotation.