What happened
On 7 November 2000, a Skytramp Mk1, registration ZS-VXY, was conducting its first proving flight following recent construction work. The aircraft departed from runway 19 at FASH with the intention of returning to the same runway. During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot encountered significant handling difficulties, noting that substantial back-pressure on the control column and increased engine power were required to maintain level flight.
Upon returning to FASH for landing, the pilot reduced power just as the aircraft approached the runway. At this moment, the nose of the aircraft dropped abruptly, leading to a bounced landing. The impact of the bounce caused the undercarriage to collapse, and the aircraft came to rest adjacent to runway 19. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, the pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's configuration and the pilot's operational authority. The aircraft had been issued a special flight permit on 3 November 2000. Regarding weight and balance, the pilot reported that the center of gravity was positioned at 25.44% MAC, which fell within the permitted limits of 20% to 31% MAC.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials and found that the pilot did not hold a type endorsement for this specific aircraft in his license. Furthermore, the pilot had not secured the necessary permission from the commissioner to act as pilot-in-command for this particular flight.