What happened
On 29 December 2002, a private flight departed from Paradise Airfield, bound for the Gamtoos River Mouth. The aircraft, a Magni M16 gyroplane registered as ZU-CDL, was carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the flight, the pilot attempted to perform a touch-and-go landing on the sands of Paradise Beach. During this maneuver, the left-hand main wheel made contact with the sand and became embedded, which triggered a rollover of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the condition of the aircraft. The pilot held a valid license with the appropriate type rating and a current medical certificate. Records indicated that the Magni M016 had been properly maintained, having completed only 44.6 flight hours since its most recent annual inspection. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were reported as having good visibility, a temperature of +24ºC, and a south-westerly wind at 8 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the left-hand main wheel dug into the sand during the landing attempt.
- The impact with the terrain caused the gyroplane to roll over.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries as both occupants were able to exit the aircraft safely.
- The aircraft suffered substantial structural damage as a result of the rollover.