Accident Details
On 17 December 2002 at 1340Z, a Cessna 210L registered ZS-HHT was operating a private flight from East London Airport to Trennery's Private Aerodrome. The pilot, who held a commercial pilot license, performed a normal short field landing on Runway 21. During the ground roll, the nose undercarriage dug into soft sand, causing the nose undercarriage fork to fracture. The pilot was thrown forward, and the propeller struck the ground. The lower nose undersurface and the left-hand wing tip, including the leading edge, were subsequently damaged. The pilot was not injured.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a Cessna 210L, was properly maintained according to the aircraft file. The last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) was certified on 20 August 2002 at 5380.40 airframe hours. The aircraft had flown an additional 81.20 hours since that inspection.
Pilot Information
The pilot was 36 years old with a valid commercial pilot license, endorsed for the aircraft type. Total flying experience was 1803.20 hours, with 65.20 hours on type.
Aftermath
No on-site investigation was carried out.
Probable Cause
After landing and during the ground roll, the nose undercarriage dug into soft ground causing the nose undercarriage fork to fail.