What happened
On 27 April 2002, a PIPER PA-31-350, registered ZS-NOT, was performing a domestic charter flight departing from Northam Aerodrome. The flight was scheduled to proceed from Northam to Messina Aerodrome. During the takeoff roll on Runway 16, the pilot initiated rotation; however, the aircraft failed to maintain sufficient lift and descended back onto the runway surface. There were seven people on board the aircraft at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the flight parameters during the departure. The inquiry established that the aircraft's maintenance records were not up to date, specifically revealing that the aircraft had exceeded the required flying hours for its next Mandatory Periodic Inspection. Additionally, the investigation looked into the aerodynamic conditions during the takeoff roll, noting the impact of environmental factors and instrument readability.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the aircraft sinking back onto the runway after the landing gear had been retracted. The primary cause was the pilot attempting to fly the aircraft at an insufficient airspeed during rotation. This maneuver caused the aircraft to fall behind the necessary drag curve, preventing sustained flight. Contributing to this error was a misinterpretation of the airspeed indicator while operating in the lower speed ranges. Furthermore, the high density altitude at the time of the accident played a role in the aircraft's performance degradation.