What happened
On 15 August 2019, a Bantam B22J aircraft, registration ZU-DNI, departed from Saldanha/Vredenburg Aerodrome for a private flight to Morning Star Aerodrome in the Western Cape. Approximately 20 minutes into the journey, while flying 10 nautical miles north of Ysterfontein, the pilot experienced significant vibrations. As the pilot searched for a landing site, a loud bang occurred, followed by an intensification of the vibration.
In response to the mechanical instability, the pilot shut down the engine and attempted to glide toward a gravel road. During the approach, the pilot had to pull up to avoid a tree in the flight path. Although the aircraft cleared the obstacle, the subsequent touchdown was hard, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The impact caused the tyres to burst and the left-hand undercarriage to bend outward, before the aircraft came to rest after a 130-degree turn.
The investigation
The investigation into the incident focused on the mechanical failure of the propulsion system. While the aircraft's last annual inspection in February 2019 had shown no signs of fatigue, a post-accident examination by the manufacturer identified critical issues on one of the propeller blades. The inspection revealed a nick and a crack on the leading edge, suggesting the propeller had previously struck an object.
Investigators also examined maintenance records. While the owner stated that propeller bolts were inspected frequently, there was no official documentation provided to support these claims. No maintenance records for the propeller itself were submitted during the inquiry.