What happened
On 2 July 2021, a Piper PA-28-140, registration ZS-FEK, was conducting Part 1lar1 training exercises at Virginia Airfield in KwaZulu-Natal. Following several touch-and-go landings with an instructor, the student pilot continued the flight solo for further circuit training. Upon landing on Runway 05, the aircraft began veering toward the right side of the runway. In an attempt to regain control, the student pilot applied power and then immediately reduced power while applying left rudder. This maneuver failed to stabilize the aircraft, causing it to veer to the left and undergo a 180-degree ground loop. The aircraft eventually came to a stop facing the opposite direction of its approach. There were 0 injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to the nose gear.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the sequence of events and the mechanical condition of the aircraft. A post-flight inspection of the Piper PA-28-140 confirmed that the nose landing gear was in good working order prior to the flight and that no mechanical failures contributed to the incident. The investigation established that the damage to the gear was a direct result of the pilot's recovery actions during the excursion.
Findings
- The initial deviation to the right was likely caused by the student pilot touching down with the right rudder already depressed.
- The primary cause of the loss of control was the incorrect recovery technique employed by the student pilot, specifically the improper sequence of applying and then reducing power combined with left rudder input.
Safety action
Following the incident, the student pilot underwent remedial training with a Grade 2 instructor on 22 July 2021. After a flight duration of 0.7 hours, the instructor assessed the student's landing technique as satisfactory and signed them off.