What happened
On 26 May 2000, a SAAB 91 SAFIR, registration ZU-BXC, was conducting a proving flight following a maintenance check. The flight originated from and was intended to return to FALA. During the landing sequence on runway 24 left at Lanseria Airport, the pilot executed a standard touchdown, with the main landing gear making contact with the runway first.
Shortly after the nose gear made contact with the surface, approximately two seconds later, the nose undercarriage failed. This caused the aircraft to skid along the runway for about 60 meters before coming to a complete stop. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were clear with excellent visibility (CAVOK).
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the mechanical components of the landing gear assembly. The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the nose gear components and the sequence of the landing impact. There were no injuries reported following the event.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary reason for the nose gear collapse was the failure of the undercarriage tension cable pulley bracket. This mechanical failure occurred immediately upon the nose gear making contact with the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller and the lower engine cowling, though no other significant damage to the airframe was noted.