What happened
On 2 February 2024, a Foxbat aircraft, registration ZU-EJB, was conducting training maneuvers at Stellenbosch Airfield (FASB) in the Western Cape. The flight, involving a flight instructor and a student pilot, was performing touch-and-go landings as part of a solo consolidation exercise under visual meteorological conditions.
Following two successful circuits, the instructor landed the aircraft and disembarked to allow the student pilot to continue the session alone. During the fourth circuit, the student pilot executed a stable approach and a smooth touchdown on Runway 1s. However, during the subsequent landing roll, the nose gear strut suddenly bent to the right. This structural failure caused the aircraft to veer left, eventually coming to a stop just beyond the edge of the runway. The student pilot was uninjured, though the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance history and flight records. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's airworthiness documentation, including its Certificate of Airworthiness and periodic inspections, were up to date. The investigation also reviewed the student pilot's credentials, noting a valid Student Pilot Licence and medical certificate.
Crucially, the investigation uncovered a prior, undocumented event. Records from the training school revealed that the aircraft had previously experienced a landing bounce. This specific occurrence was neither reported to the school's management nor recorded in the aircraft's flight logs.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the failure of the nose gear strut, which bent during the landing roll.
- A pre-existing crack had developed in the nose wheel strut following an unreported landing bounce.
- This structural crack progressed with subsequent flights, eventually leading to the deformation of the strut during the incident.
- The failure to report and record the initial landing bounce prevented timely maintenance intervention.