What happened
On 12 June 2005, a Raptor Microlight, registration ZU-APE, was conducting a private flight from Panorama Aerodrome with the intention of landing at Kolobe Aerodrome near Klerksdorp. The aircraft was flying in formation with another aircraft. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot encountered significant surface winds, measured at approximately 17 to 26 knots from the north.
While the lead aircraft managed to land without incident, the pilot of ZU-APE struggled with the wind conditions. After performing three unsuccessful go-arounds, the pilot attempted a fourth approach. During this final attempt, the aircraft made a heavy impact on its nose wheel. The force of the touchdown caused the wheel rim to fail, which subsequently led to the aircraft rolling onto its side.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the mechanical failure of the landing gear. Investigators noted that the surface wind was gusting and quite strong at the time of the accident. The aircraft had undergone its last annual inspection in February 2005, with only 37 flight hours accumulated since that check. The investigation also reviewed the technical documentation for the aircraft regarding operational limits.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot attempting to land in wind conditions that exceeded the aircraft's operational capabilities.
- The impact of the hard landing directly resulted in the structural failure of the nose wheel rim.
- The failure of the rim caused the aircraft to lose stability and overturn.
- The aircraft's operator manual lacked specific instructions regarding crosswind limitations, and no specific test data for such conditions was available for this model.