What happened
On October 29, 2002, a Jabiru SP, registration ZU-COR, was conducting an annual flight renewal test at Mossel Bay Aerodrome. The flight was operated by a commercial pilot accompanied by a testing instructor. During a touch-and-go maneuver, the instructor simulated an engine failure after takeoff by closing the throttle while the aircraft was between 50 and 100 feet above the ground.
In response to the simulated failure, the pilot retracted the flaps while the aircraft was still at a low altitude. Although the instructor attempted to intervene by applying full power to recover the aircraft, the descent rate was too high to prevent a significant impact. The aircraft struck the runway with enough force to sever both the nose gear and the left main landing gear. The impact also caused damage to the propeller and the left wing tip assembly. Following the hard landing, the aircraft veered off the runway to the left, coming to a stop on the adjacent grass and gravel surface.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of actions taken by the crew during the simulated emergency. It was established that the aircraft was operating under clear weather conditions with a 20-knot wind. The crew members were able to safely shut off the fuel and electrical systems and exit the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. The investigation confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's use of incorrect technique, specifically the decision to retract the flaps before applying full throttle during the recovery from the simulated engine failure.
- This premature flap retraction contributed to an excessive rate of descent.
- The instructor's attempt to restore power was unsuccessful due to the insufficient altitude remaining to recover the flight path.