What happened
On 01 July 2001, a Globe Swift, registration ZS-BDB, was conducting a private flight from Howick to Oribi Aerodrome in Pietmaritzburg. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported hearing and feeling a distinct knocking sensation at the moment of rotation. Following the takeoff, the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear, but noticed that the visual indicator for the left-hand undercarriage showed a lower position than the right.
As the aircraft progressed toward its destination, a persistent knocking sound continued until the airspeed indicator showed a reduction to 80 mph. During this period, Air Traffic Control (ATC) notified the pilot that the left-hand main undercarriage was dangling loosely beneath the aircraft. To mitigate further damage, the pilot performed a landing at Oribi Aerodrome with the nose and right-hand gear retracted. The impact caused damage to the flaps, the left-hand wing, and the undersurface of the fuselage, and the propeller blades struck the ground. There were no injuries to the two occupants on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear assembly during the transition from ground roll to flight. Investigators examined the state of the undercarriage components and the sequence of the structural failure during the takeoff phase.