Accident Description
On 1 July 2001, a Globe Swift aircraft registered ZS-BDB was involved in an accident during a private flight. The pilot, aged 43, held a valid private pilot license with 958.20 total flying hours, including 10.50 hours on type. The aircraft departed from Howick Aerodrome with one passenger on board. According to the pilot, the takeoff was normal until just after rotation, when a knock was heard and felt. The undercarriage was retracted, but the left-hand undercarriage indicator showed a slightly lower position than the other side.
During the en route phase to Oribi Aerodrome in Pietermaritzburg, a knocking sound was heard. The sound ceased when the indicated airspeed was reduced to 80 mph. Air traffic control (ATC) subsequently confirmed that the left-hand main undercarriage was hanging loosely from the aircraft.
Landing and Damage
The pilot elected to land the aircraft with the nose and right-hand undercarriage retracted. The underside of the fuselage, the flaps, and the left-hand wing sustained damage. The propeller blades made contact with the ground. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained any injuries. The meteorological conditions at the time were reported as CAVOK.
Probable Cause
Investigation revealed that the left-hand main undercarriage bellcrank had fractured. The fracture was attributed to a crack that had developed and eventually led to an overload failure of the remaining material. No other causal factors were identified.