What happened
On 28 July 2006, a Bantam B22J microlight, registration ZS-VWX, was conducting a private flight between two farms near Hermanus. The flight originated from a private aerodrome on Weltevrede farm and was destined for Grootbos farm. Upon touchdown at the Grootbos farm grass runway, the aircraft encountered gusty south-easterly winds. During taxiing, the aircraft drifted to the right, causing the right main wheel to sink into soft sand.
In an attempt to maintain directional control and counteract the drag caused by the sand, the pilot increased throttle to generate more rudder authority. This maneuver led to the separation of the right main wheel from the landing gear, causing the aircraft to yaw sharply to the left. The pilot was unable to recover control, leading the aircraft to run off the runway and strike a small embankment. The impact caused the nose wheel to separate and the aircraft to nose over to the right, ultimately resulting in the right wing tip striking the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The Bantam B22J had been subject to its last annual inspection approximately 77 hours prior to the accident. At the time of the occurrence, the pilot held a valid microlight license and a medical certificate that was current. Meteorological data confirmed visibility was greater than 10km with a temperature of 18°C, though surface winds were noted as being south-easterly and gusty.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of directional control during the landing and taxi phase.
- Gusty wind conditions contributed to the initial difficulty in maintaining the runway centerline.
- The separation of the right main wheel was a direct result of the pilot's attempt to use increased engine power to compensate for the drag of the sand-submerged wheel.