What happened
On 28 October 1999, a Piper PA36-300, registration ZS-LCG, was involved in a ground incident at Middelburg Airfield. Following a successful landing, the pilot was taxiing the aircraft toward the hangar area with the engine running. While maneuvering the aircraft into a parking bay near the hangar, the right-hand undercarriage unexpectedly gave way. This structural failure caused the aircraft to tilt, resulting in the propeller striking the ground.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the taxi maneuver. The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the landing gear assembly and the specific point of failure within the undercarriage mechanism. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported as a result of the incident.
Findings
Technical analysis revealed that the right-hand main undercarriage lower support clamp, located just beneath the undercarriage leg spring, had suffered a structural failure. The investigation established that the clamp fractured at both ends. This breakage originated from pre-existing cracks that developed at one end of the support clamp, ultimately leading to the sudden collapse of the landing gear.