What happened
On 1 April 2011, a private flight departed from Kitty Hawk Aero Estate in Gauteng, destined for Ingwelala Windsock Airfield in Limpopo. During the final approach to runway 19 at Ingwelala, the pilot configured the Lancair 320 with 40 degrees of flaps and maintained an indicated airspeed of 85 mph. This speed was below the 90 mph recommended in the pilot's operating handbook for smooth weather conditions.
At an altitude of approximately 45 feet, the aircraft experienced a rapid descent. Despite the pilot's attempt to correct the sink rate by pulling back on the control column, the aircraft struck the runway surface. The impact caused the plane to bounce into a nose-up attitude while yawing to the left. The pilot immediately applied full power and reduced flaps to initiate a go-around, but discovered that the rudder was no longer responding to pedal inputs.
Due to the lack of rudder control and the fact that Ingwelala was an unmanned airfield, the pilot elected to return to the original departure point at Kitty Hawk. During the subsequent landing at Kitty Hawk, the aircraft continued to yaw to the left, prompting the pilot to target the right side of the runway to ensure a smooth touchdown on the left side. No injuries were sustained by the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the sequence of events and the physical state of the aircraft following the incident. The investigation focused on the flight path, the pilot's adherence to operating procedures, and the structural damage sustained during the impact at Ingwelala. The investigators also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance and airworthiness status.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a hard landing at Ingwelala Windsock Airfield.
- The impact caused significant damage to the lower tail section and the main undercarriage oleo struts.
- The force of the landing caused the rudder to become detached from the upper hinge point of the vertical stabilizer.
- The pilot was flying with a valid license, type rating, and medical certificate.
- The aircraft's authority to fly was valid at the time of the accident.