What happened
On 21 July 2001, a PIPER PA32RT-300T, registration ZS-LAO, was operating a private flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome to Secunda Aerodrome. The purpose of the flight was to participate in an airshow scheduled at the destination.
Upon arrival, the pilot was directed to follow another aircraft and proceed to a designated parking area. The intended taxi route required traversing a rough, grass-covered section of the airfield situated between the runway and a taxiway. During this maneuver, the aircraft's right-hand main wheel struck a hole that was not visible on the ground surface.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the site and the movement of the aircraft. The investigator determined that the pilot was maintaining an appropriate speed for the taxi maneuver. The inspection of the aircraft revealed that the impact with the hidden depression was significant enough to cause structural damage to the wing and the attachment point of the right-hand main landing gear. No injuries were reported, and no fatalities occurred during the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the right-hand main wheel entering a concealed hole in the grass area.
- The terrain between the runway and the taxiway parking area contained unidentifiable ground hazards.
- The impact resulted in damage to the aircraft's wing structure and landing gear assembly.