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| Date: | Tuesday 2 July 2024 |
| Time: | 12:00 |
| Type: |  Bellanca 7KCAB Citabria |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | ZS-FKL |
| MSN: | 88 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Meyerton, Gauteng Province -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Johannesburg/Germiston-Rand Airport (QRA/FAGM) |
| Johannesburg/Germiston-Rand Airport (QRA/FAGM) | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On Tuesday, 2 July 2024, a Grade 2 flight instructor (FI) and a pilot under training (with a Private Pilot Licence) on-board a Citabria 7KCAB aircraft with registration ZS-FKL were conducting a type conversion training from Rand Airport (FAGM) with the intention to land at the same airport. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) by day prevailed at the time of the flight.
The FI stated that a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft was conducted and nothing abnormal was found. The aircraft had approximately 63 litres (I) of Aviation Gasoline 100 Low Lead (Avgas 100LL) on-board. The pilot was the pilot flying (PF), and the flight instructor was the pilot monitoring (PM). Good weather conditions prevailed at the time of the flight. The aircraft took off and proceeded to Klipriver Airfield in Meyerton, situated 13 nautical miles (nm) south-east of FAGM for touch-and-go landing practise.
The PF reported that they completed two successful circuits with three-point landings. On the third circuit, the intention was to conduct a wheeler landing (main gear and tail in level position). The aircraft touched down about 190 metres (m) from the threshold of the runway at 70 miles per hour (mph) and it bounced; the propeller struck the ground on the second touchdown, about 200m from the threshold. The FI took control of the aircraft and initiated a return to FAGM.
After rotation, the aircraft climbed to about 6 feet (ft) above ground level (AGL) but encountered severe propeller vibrations and, thus, was unable to climb further. After flying over the runway intersection at a low altitude, the aircraft lost speed. This necessitated the crew to initiate a forced landing. The FI chose an open field north of Runway 02 to conduct the forced landing, however, there were anthills on the field. To avoid the anthills, the FI slightly turned the aircraft to the right, but it touched down with its right-wing first, followed by the right main gear and then the left main gear. The landing gear detached, and the propeller blades struck the ground.
The aircraft skidded on its belly and came to a stop a few metres from where the landing gear had detached, with the left-wing tip touching the ground. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the occupants were not injured.
Probable Cause(s)
Unsuccessful forced landing after a loss of thrust due to severe vibrations caused by the damaged propeller blades.
Contributing Factor(s)
Improper landing technique that led to a propeller strike.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
SACAA
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 28 February 1985 | N6328N | private | 2 | Cornville, AZ |  |
w/o |
| 11 December 1998 | ZS-FKL | 0 | Runway 19 Stellenbosh Aerodrome | |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Sep-2024 16:06 | ASN | Added |
| 19-Sep-2024 16:09 | ASN | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Phase, Narrative, ] |
| 19-Sep-2024 16:10 | ASN | Updated [Aircraft type, ] |
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