Accident Overview
On 29 July 2006 at 1000Z, a Piper PA-28-235 aircraft, registration ZS-EKB, was involved in an accident on the taxiway at Bethlehem Aerodrome. The aircraft was on a private flight and had departed from the same aerodrome. During landing on Runway 29, the pilot encountered wind shear conditions, leading to a collapse of the nose gear and a subsequent propeller strike on the runway. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, engine, and forward bottom engine cowlings. The pilot reported no injuries.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-28-235, with a last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) certified on 14 October 2005 at a total airframe time of 4741.00 hours. Since that inspection, the aircraft had accumulated an additional 58.00 hours. The maintenance organization responsible for the aircraft, AMO 252, had been audited by the CAA on 3 May 2006, and all findings from that audit had been addressed in a submitted action plan.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence with an endorsement for the aircraft type and a valid medical certificate with a general restriction. The pilot's total flying experience was 95.0 hours, with 23.5 hours on type. The pilot was 31 years old.
Meteorological Conditions
At the time of the accident, surface wind was from 290° at 5 knots, temperature was 18°C, visibility was clear, and the sky was clear with no cloud cover.
Probable Cause and Contributory Factors
The probable cause of the accident was that the nose gear of the aircraft collapsed after landing. A contributory factor was that the pilot landed the aircraft in wind shear conditions.