What happened
On 20 September 2005, a Piper PA34-200T, registration ZS-KFT, was conducting a private flight from Beira Aerodrome to Nhago Aerodrome in Mozambique. During the final approach to the grass runway at Nhago, the aircraft entered an accelerated descent. This resulted in a heavy touchdown and a subsequent bounce. In response to the unstable approach, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. The second attempt to land the aircraft was completed without further incident.
The investigation
Following the engine shutdown, a physical inspection of the aircraft was conducted to assess the impact of the hard landing. The examination revealed that the propeller blades on the left engine were bent. Additionally, investigators noted that oil was leaking from the left oleo strut, and structural damage was present on the left wing spar. Records indicated that the aircraft's most recent mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) had been completed on 13 May 2005, with the airframe having accumulated an additional 87.7 hours of flight time prior to this occurrence.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an accelerated rate of descent during the initial approach to the grass runway.
- The impact of the hard landing caused mechanical and structural damage, specifically to the left engine propeller, the left oleo strut, and the left wing spar.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries resulting from the event.