What happened
On 6 January 2003, a PIPER PA34-220T, registration ZS-MPM, was conducting a private flight from Port Alfred to the Kwandwe Game Reserve. The aircraft was occupied by two pilots at the time of the occurrence. As the aircraft approached the landing at the game reserve, witnesses observed the left-hand main landing gear behaving erratically, appearing to flap during extension. Upon touchdown, the left main gear had rotated 90 degrees from its proper position. This structural failure caused the gear to separate from the airframe, triggering a ground loop to the left. There were no fatalities and no injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of the left-hand main landing gear to determine the origin of the failure. The inspection focused on the lower torque link, specifically the area where it connects to the upper torque link. While one fracture face of the link was too damaged to provide conclusive forensic data, the second fracture face exhibited a porous grain structure. This specific type of damage indicated that the component had failed due to an overload. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence of pre-existing cracks or structural weaknesses on the component prior to the failure.
Records indicated that the aircraft was airworthy, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and 2,875 total flying hours. The aircraft had undergone its last maintenance inspection (MPI) approximately 65 flight hours before the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the ground loop was the failure of the lower left-hand torque link.
- The failure of this component allowed the wheel to rotate sideways, resulting in the gear being turned 90 degrees at the moment of landing.
- The separation of the left main gear from the aircraft was a direct consequence of this mechanical failure.
- While the overload failure was evident, the damage to one fracture face meant investigators could not definitively rule out or confirm the presence of a pre-existing crack.