2024 Piper PA-28-235 serious incident at Ermelo Aerodrome (ZS-FOW)

Overview and Occurrence Details On the morning of 22 May 2024, a Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-28-235, registration ZS-FOW, was conducting a solo circuit training flight under Part 141 provisions at Ermelo Aerodrome (FAEO) in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The flight took off from the aerodrome with the intention of landing back at the same location. The pilot-in-command was a 42-year-old male student pilot holding a Student Pilot Licence (SPL). The flight was conducted in daylight under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). ## Flight Sequence and Damage According to the student pilot, he had completed one uneventful circuit before a pilot in another aircraft called inbound for a full-stop landing and requested wind and runway information. During the second landing attempt, the student pilot reported that a tailwind picked up over the threshold, resulting in higher-than-intended airspeed. The aircraft began oscillating, a condition known as porpoising, and the pilot determined that a safe landing was unlikely. He applied full power and executed a go-around, landing safely on the second attempt. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot discovered that the propeller had struck the runway. The aircraft sustained minor damage to two propeller blades, and no persons were injured. ## Meteorological and Aerodrome Information Weather data provided by the pilot indicated a wind direction of 135° at 5–10 knots, a temperature of 10°C, and CAVOK conditions with visibility of 9,999 meters. Ermelo Aerodrome is a licensed aerodrome with a single asphalt runway oriented 13/31, measuring 1,460 meters in length and 10 meters in width. The student pilot elected to use Runway 31. ## Aircraft and Personnel Information The aircraft, serial number 28-11150, had 4,328.2 total airframe hours at the time of the incident. It was fitted with a Lycoming O-540-B4B5 engine (serial number L-12592-40) and a Hartzell HC-C2YK-1BF propeller (serial number AW2374), both with 623.5 hours since last overhaul. The aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and was airworthy at dispatch. The student pilot had a total of 49.6 flight hours, with 17.7 hours on type. His Class 2 aviation medical certificate was valid until 1 June 2024. ## Findings and Probable Cause The investigation determined that the student pilot approached the runway with a tailwind, which increased ground speed and caused the aircraft to porpoise during the landing attempt. The propeller blade tips struck the runway surface while the aircraft was in a nose-low attitude. Contributing factors included the student pilot’s lack of experience on the aircraft type and an improper assessment of the prevailing wind, which led to the tailwind landing. The report noted no safety actions or safety messages were issued.