What happened
On 30 August 2007, a PZL-Mielec, Dromader M18B, registration ZS-OXC, was conducting aerial work at the Hlelo private airstrip near Piet Retief, KwaZulu-Natal. The pilot was performing a fire-fighting exercise and had successfully completed the discharge of an initial load. While returning to the grass runway to reload the aircraft, the pilot attempted a landing.
During the landing roll, the aircraft skidded, causing the pilot to lose directional control. As the aircraft veered off the runway, the left wing struck trees located approximately 20 meters to the left of the landing strip. The momentum caused the aircraft to swing around, leading to a second impact where the right wing also struck the trees. The pilot escaped the incident without injury, and the aircraft sustained damage to both wings, but no other significant damage was reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the operational conditions and the airworthiness of the aircraft. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were favorable, characterized by good visibility, light north-westerly winds, and a temperature of approximately 14°C.
The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial license and was properly rated for the aircraft type. Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft had been correctly maintained, with the most recent mandatory periodic inspection completed in May 2007. Furthermore, a recent audit of the operator by the SACAA in June 2007 had revealed no major findings.