What happened
On 28 December 2007, an Aerotrike Safari, registration ZU-CNN, was involved in an accident at the Tugela River mouth beach. The flight originated from Ballito Microlight Aerodrome, with the intention of landing on the beach. The initial flight segment was completed without incident, and the pilot successfully landed the aircraft on the sand.
During the subsequent attempt to depart from the beach, the pilot encountered difficulty as the aircraft's wheels failed to clear the soft terrain. Deciding to abort the take-off, the pilot decelerated the aircraft. However, during this process, the nose wheel dug into the sand, causing the rear of the aircraft to lift and the left wing to strike the ground. While there were zero fatalities and no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, the aircraft was destroyed in the event.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the operational conditions and the pilot's credentials. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions at the time were CAVOK with light easterly winds. The inquiry also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the last annual inspection had been completed on 15 April 2007, with approximately 34.85 flying hours accumulated since that inspection.
Findings
- The pilot performed a landing on an unsuitable surface, specifically a beach, which presented a high risk of the undercarriage becoming embedded in soft sand.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft without the required type rating on their license, as mandated by Civil Aviation Regulation Part 61.01.2.
- The primary cause of the accident was the nose gear digging into the sand during the aborted take-off attempt.