What happened
On the evening of 13 November 2017, a Piper PA-32R, registration ZS-STW, was conducting a private flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome to Louis Trichardt Aerodrome. During the approach for runway 28, the pilot observed a "Gear Unsafe" warning and an audible alert indicating the nose landing gear had failed to lock in the extended position.
In an attempt to verify the gear status, the passenger contacted a family member on the ground to observe the aircraft during a low-level fly-by. Based on the ground observer's report that the gear appeared to be down, the pilot proceeded with the landing. However, as brakes were applied during the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft veered left off the runway and came to rest on the grass in a nose-down position. The incident occurred after sunset, and while the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, lower engine cowling, and nose gear actuator mounts, there were no injuries to the pilot or passenger.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's credentials. Investigators discovered that the nose gear actuator mounts had been forced out of the airframe, a condition likely caused by a hard landing occurring either during this flight or a previous one. This mechanical failure prevented the gear from locking correctly.
Furthermore, the investigation identified several regulatory discrepancies. The pilot was operating with an expired Private Pilot License and lacked the necessary type rating for the aircraft. Additionally, the aircraft's flight records were incomplete, as recent fuel uplifts had not been documented in the flight folio as required by regulations.