What happened
On 6 August 2007, a Samba UFM-10 microlight, registration ZU-TWH, was participating in a group holiday flight involving five aircraft. After departing from Pemba Aerodrome, Mozambique, the aircraft proceeded to Ibo Island Aerodrome for landing. Upon arrival, the crew identified a southerly wind and prepared to use Runway 18.
As the aircraft touched down, the pilot encountered a sudden gust from the left, which caused the right wing to dip toward the ground. In an attempt to recover, the pilot initiated a go-around by applying full power. However, because the aircraft was traveling at a low airspeed, the resulting torque effect caused the microlight to veer sharply to the left. The pilot lost directional control, leading the left wing to strike dense vegetation adjacent to the runway, causing the aircraft to slide into the brush.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the flight history and maintenance records of the ZU-TWH. The aircraft had been registered earlier that year, in February 2007, and held a valid Authority to Fly. Maintenance records indicated that the most recent annual inspection had been completed in February 2007 at 257 flight hours, with approximately 80.9 hours flown since that inspection. The investigation confirmed that both the pilot and the passenger escaped the incident with 0 injuries, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of control was the torque effect acting on the aircraft during a low-speed, high-power application.
- A sudden wind gust from the left during the landing roll destabilized the aircraft's lateral balance.
- The aircraft's low airspeed at the moment of power application prevented effective directional control during the aborted landing.