What happened
On 11 June 2019, a Radial Rocket aircraft, registration ZU-IJP, was conducting a proving flight from Krugersdorp Aerodrome to Baragwanath Airfield. The flight, which included a pilot and a passenger, initially proceeded without incident under visual flight rules. After completing several successful touch-and-go landings, the pilot attempted a full-stop landing on Runway 13. During the landing roll, the aircraft veered toward the left side of the runway and exited the paved surface into rough terrain, where the left main wheel entered a ditch.
While the occupants escaped without injury, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including impacts to the propeller blades, the underside of the left wing, and the landing gear assemblies.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances of the landing and the aircraft's mechanical state. The investigation noted that the aircraft was a newly built model, representing the first of its type in South Africa, with only 3.6 total airframe hours at the time of the event.
Data from the flight revealed that the aircraft touched down at approximately 86 knots. This speed was 11 knots higher than the 75-knot landing speed recommended in the aircraft's flight manual. The investigation also noted that the pilot had carried a passenger during a proving flight, which was a deviation from the specific regulations governing such operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was that the aircraft landed at an excessive speed, which triggered a hard landing across all three landing gears.
- This impact force caused the tail gear to bend to the left, leading to the loss of directional control.
- The pilot's landing speed exceeded the manufacturer's recommended limits by 11 knots.
- The pilot was operating in violation of Civil Aviation Regulations regarding the carriage of passengers during a proving flight.