What happened
On 03 February 2018, an Ayres S2 and R T15, registration ZS-PAF, was conducting a crop spraying operation near Midmar Dam in KwaZulu-Natal. After departing from a private grass airstrip for a flight over the Lidgetton area, the pilot returned to the same location approximately 40 minutes later for a full-stop landing.
Upon touching down on the grass runway, the aircraft initially settled on its landing gear. However, the aircraft then experienced a violent swing to the right. Despite the pilot applying left rudder and left braking to maintain the centerline, the aircraft could not be stabilized. The aircraft veered off the runway and struck an electric fence located 12.5 meters from the runway centerline.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation examined the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the circumstances of the landing. The pilot, who held a valid CPL (A) and appropriate type rating, was the sole occupant and sustained no injuries.
Investigators inspected the aircraft's landing gear and identified a deflated right tyre. The aircraft, operated by Orsmond Aerial Spray (PTY) Ltd, had undergone a maintenance inspection less than four months prior to the incident. Technical analysis noted that the impact with the fence caused several points of damage, including tears in both the left and right flaps, a dent to the right wing leading edge, and a dent to the propeller tip leading edge.