What happened
On 29 January 2024, a private flight operating a Beechcraft King Air C90A, registered ZS-FON, was landing at Bona-Bona Lodge Airfield in the North West province of South Africa. The flight had departed from Lanseria International Airport under visual meteorological conditions and proceeded without incident until the landing phase.
During the landing roll on the asphalt surface of Runway 17, the left main wheel assembly detached from the aircraft's axle. This mechanical failure caused the aircraft to pull sharply to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the deviation using right rudder and applying the toe brakes, the aircraft continued to veer off the paved surface. As the aircraft skidded on the remaining left gear brake assembly, the detached wheel assembly struck the blades of the No. 1 engine propeller. The aircraft eventually came to a halt on the grass, approximately one metre from the edge of the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft had undergone a mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) approximately 14.6 hours prior to the accident. The investigation examined the mechanical state of the landing gear, noting that the left main wheel outer bearing had sustained damage. This specific damage was identified as the catalyst for the wheel assembly separating from the axle. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history, confirming the aircraft was maintained by an approved maintenance organisation and held a valid certificate of airworthiness.
Findings
- The left main wheel outer bearing was damaged, which directly caused the main wheel assembly to separate from the axle.
- The separation of the wheel assembly led to the No. 1 engine propeller blades making contact with the detached gear components.
- The aircraft experienced substantial damage to the left landing gear wheel assembly and the No. 1 engine propeller blades.