What happened
On the morning of 14 May 2025, a private flight involving a Jabiru J170, registration ZU-FVZ, was returning to Wings Park Airfield in East London, Eastern Cape. The flight, conducted under visual meteorological conditions, had departed from the same airfield for a short trip to Wave Crest.
Following a stable approach and touchdown on Runway 09, the aircraft proceeded to taxi at approximately 5 mph. During this phase, the nose landing gear suddenly collapsed. The impact caused the aircraft's nose to pitch downward, resulting in the propeller blades striking the ground. There were 0 injuries to the pilot or passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to the propeller and nose gear.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID focused on the mechanical failure of the undercarriage. An inspection of the aircraft by an approved person revealed that the bolt connecting the lower suspension shaft to the nose wheel yoke was missing. While the engine showed no signs of damage, one of the propeller blades had sustained impact damage. A search of the runway for the missing hardware was unsuccessful.
Findings
- The primary cause of the nose landing gear collapse was the detachment of the bolt securing the lower suspension shaft to the nose wheel yoke assembly.
- The loss of this specific bolt compromised the structural integrity of the nose gear, making the suspension assembly unable to effectively transmit loads.
- The Jabiru Pilot’s Operating Handbook explicitly requires that landing gear bolts be checked for security during pre-flight inspections.