What happened
On February 7, 2000, a Beech 65-A90, registration ZS-IRJ, was conducting a military flight from Kimberley to AFB Waterkloof with a pilot and five passengers on board. While entering the Johannesburg Terminal Control Area (TMA), air traffic controllers notified the pilot of intermittent transponder signals. Upon investigation, the pilot discovered that both generators had gone offline, resulting in a total loss of electrical power to the aircraft.
In response to the emergency, the pilot utilized the emergency extension system to lower the landing gear. However, during the landing sequence on Runway 19 at AFB Waterkloof, the main undercarriage collapsed.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft's power generation systems to determine the source of the electrical blackout. The investigation focused on the failure of both engine-driven generators and the subsequent impact of the gear collapse during the landing roll.
Findings
- The primary cause of the total electrical failure was a sheared starter-generator drive shaft on the right-hand engine.
- The left-hand engine generator also suffered an undetermined failure, contributing to the loss of all electrical power.
- There were no fatalities and no injuries resulting from the incident.