What happened
On 30 January 2002, a GRUMMAN G164B, registration ZS-KEW, was performing agricultural spraying operations at the Tshivase Tea Estate Private Aerodrome near Louis Trichardt. After completing a fertilizer application, the pilot returned to the aerodrome for landing. Shortly after touchdown, the right-hand main landing gear failed, causing the lower wing to strike the ground. The aircraft then veered toward the right side of the runway, eventually coming to a stop in a ditch in a nose-down position. While the aircraft suffered substantial damage to both the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right wings, the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the condition of the airfield. The aircraft's last maintenance inspection had been completed on 11 January 2002, with 42.5 flight hours accumulated since that check. The operator held a valid Air Operating Certificate at the time of the event. Regarding the airfield, the aircraft owner noted that the runway surface was uneven and rough, noting that several take-offs and landings had been performed on the same strip.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the right-hand main landing gear entering a hole located on the edge of the runway.
- The impact with the hole created an overload condition that caused the right-hand landing gear spring leg to bend backward.
- This structural failure led to the fracturing of the upper attachment bolts on the landing gear assembly.
- The loss of structural integrity in the landing gear prevented the pilot from maintaining the aircraft's heading on the runway.