Accident Overview
On 18 November 2003, at 0936Z, a Cessna 402B registered ZS-NLU was involved in an accident at Rand Aerodrome. The flight was a training operation with an instructor, a camera operator, and a pilot undergoing a type conversion. The weather was fine, with a temperature of +25°C, and the wind from 110° magnetic, light and variable.
Sequence of Events
According to the instructor, after completing an aerial photographic survey of the Sandton area, the instructor and the pilot performed stalls, steep turns, and simulated engine failures at the Johannesburg General Flying Area. Returning to Rand Aerodrome, the pilot executed a successful touch-and-go landing on Runway 29. On the second landing, the pilot allowed the aircraft to bounce. The instructor immediately took over and applied full power to initiate a go-around and avoid a heavy landing. During the attempted go-around, the left-hand engine lagged, causing the aircraft to veer to the left and depart the left side of the runway.
The aircraft rolled approximately 250 meters on the grass with the nose wheel still off the ground. After the instructor lowered the nose, the aircraft rolled another 50 meters, at which point the nose wheel separated from the nose gear oleo fork. The nose landing gear doors were damaged, and both propellers made contact with the ground. There were no injuries among the three occupants.
Investigation Findings
On-site investigation revealed that the nose wheel retaining bolt-end nut was missing. The nose wheel separated from the nose landing gear after the aircraft rolled on the grass surface for approximately 50 meters.
Probable Cause
The probable cause, as stated in the report, is that during the second touch-and-go landing, the left-hand engine lagged, and the instructor took over but lost directional control when the aircraft veered to the left, off the runway, and rolled for over 300 meters on the grass before coming to rest.