What happened
On the morning of January 26, 2001, a Bush Baby aircraft, registration ZU-BSB, was conducting private flight training maneuvers at Koppies Airfield. The pilot was performing circuit and landing training when a critical mechanical failure occurred shortly after takeoff. The left-hand main wheel axle snapped, causing the wheel to detach from the landing gear assembly. During the subsequent attempt to land, the loss of the wheel caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left, ultimately resulting in the aircraft overturning on runway 06. There were no injuries reported following the incident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the components of the landing gear to determine why the axle had failed. The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the landing gear assembly, noting that the aircraft was relatively new, having been operated for only 62 hours since its manufacture. The inquiry scrutinized the manufacturing process and the specific materials used in the production of the axle components.
Findings
Technical analysis revealed that the use of sub-standard material during the manufacturing of the axles was the primary reason for the structural failure. This material deficiency led to the breakage of the left-hand main wheel axle, which directly caused the loss of the wheel during flight and the subsequent loss of directional control during the landing phase.