History of Flight
The pilot, accompanied by a friend who was also a pilot, departed Wonderboom Aerodrome on a charter flight to Halali Aerodrome to collect passengers. After a normal takeoff and cruise at FL095, the aircraft arrived overhead the destination. The pilot descended to approximately 100 to 200 feet above ground level to inspect the runway and noticed a vehicle on it. He conducted another circuit to confirm the vehicle had left, then decided to land on Runway 19, which had an upslope in a southerly direction. The pilot was familiar with the runway, having landed there the previous day.
During the approach, the pilot flew a downwind leg, completed before-landing checks, and confirmed the landing gear was down and locked with three green indicators illuminated. The aircraft touched down normally with full flaps approximately 50 metres past the threshold. About 200 metres after touchdown, at approximately 90 mph, the left wing began to drop. The pilot suspected a left-hand undercarriage failure, closed the power, and attempted to maintain directional control. The left wing then contacted the ground, and the aircraft veered left off the runway. The nose wheel broke off, and the right-hand undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft came to rest approximately 30 metres to the left of Runway 19.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot and passenger sustained no injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to the left and right main landing gear, both propellers, the left wing, and the undersurface of the fuselage. No other damage was caused.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The failed components of the left and right main landing gear bell-cranks (which attach to the trunnion) were sent for metallurgical analysis. The analysis concluded that the left-hand main landing gear collapsed on landing as a result of an overload condition. The right-hand main landing gear bell-crank piece was found underneath the right wing during recovery.
No pre- or post-impact fire occurred. The accident was considered survivable due to low impact forces and proper use of seatbelts and shoulder harnesses. The aircraft was not fitted with a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, which were not required by regulations.
Probable Cause: The left-hand main landing gear collapsed on landing as a result of an overload condition.