What happened
During a domestic charter flight operating under IFR from Bloemfontein Aerodrome to George Aerodrome, the crew was performing an ILS approach for landing on Runway 11. As the aircraft type reached approximately 1,000 feet from the runway threshold, the landing gear was extended and full flaps were set for an indicated airspeed of 120kt. During this phase of the approach, the crew transitioned to a visual approach.
Shortly after this transition, a loud impact was heard, followed by the failure of the right-hand engine. The pilot flying noted a significant yaw and a severe right bank, attributing the event to a bird strike on the right engine. The pilot-in-command took control of the aircraft to attempt to counteract the rightward yaw. After requesting a go-around via radio, the crew applied full power to both engines, retracted the landing gear, and the pilot-in-command feathered the right-hand propeller.
Despite these actions, the aircraft continued to yaw to the right and began losing altitude, accompanied by a stall aural warning. In an effort to maintain control, the pilot-in-command shut down and feathered the left-hand engine. This maneuver necessitated an emergency forced landing on a cattle farm located just beyond a boundary fence. During the descent, the aircraft's wings struck telephone and wire fence poles, causing significant damage to the underside of the fuselage and both wings. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the two occupants.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was identified as a bird strike affecting the right-hand engine.
- The subsequent loss of control and forced landing were exacerbated by the necessity of shutting down the remaining engine to manage the severe yaw.