What happened
On 19 November 2019, a Jabiru J160, registration ZU-FAT, was performing circuit exercises at Rhino Park Airfield in Gauteng Province. The flight was being conducted under visual flight rules as a private operation. While the first circuit was completed without issue, the pilot encountered difficulties during the second circuit while on short finals for Runway 2t.
As the aircraft prepared to flare, it encountered a sudden and severe downdraft. The pilot attempted to apply power to initiate a go-around; however, the aircraft was unable to regain sufficient altitude. This resulted in a hard touchdown approximately 20 metres from the runway threshold. The force of the impact caused the left main landing gear to break away, leading to a loss of directional control. The aircraft veered to the left of the runway and eventually came to a stop after striking a perimeter fence 50 metres from the runway surface. There were no injuries reported, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including impacts to the nose landing gear, the left wingtip, and the propeller tips.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the flight history, meteorological conditions, and the physical state of the aircraft. The pilot was found to be properly licensed with a valid medical certificate, and the aircraft was fully airworthy, having undergone a mandatory periodic inspection only 0.5 hours prior to the incident.
Investigators reviewed the environmental factors at Rhino Park Airfield, noting that the presence of hangars and large trees near the threshold of Runway 27 can disrupt local wind patterns. Meteorological data obtained via a weather website indicated a surface wind of 310 degrees at 8 knots at the time of the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was wind shear experienced during the flare phase of the landing.
- The wind shear was caused by changes in wind speed and direction as the airflow was disrupted by nearby trees and hangars.
- This disruption led to a loss of airflow over the wings, causing the aircraft to lose height and land with excessive force.
- The structural failure of the left main landing gear during the hard landing led to the subsequent runway excursion.