AIRCRAFT SERIOUS INCIDENT SHORT REPORT

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CA 12-40 13 February 2018 Page 1 of 12 Section/division Accident and Incident Investigations Division Form Number: CA 12-40 AIRCRAFT SERIOUS INCIDENT SHORT REPORT CA18/3/2/1162: ZS-MHM, Landing gear related malfunction resulting in a runway excursion Date and time : 8 March 2017, 1730Z Occurrence type : Serious Incident Aircraft registration : ZS-MHM Aircraft manufacturer and model : Beechcraft King Air 90 (F90) Last point of departure : Lanseria Aerodrome (FALA) Next point of intended landing : Rand Aerodrome (FAGM) Location of incident site with reference to easily defined geographical points (GPS readings if possible) At FAGM to the left of runway 29 on the grass (26°14’ 32.87” South 028°08’ 54.55” East) Meteorological information : METAR FAOR 081730Z VRB03KT CAVOK 22/09 Q1021 NOSIG= Type of operation : Private (Part 91) Persons on board : 1 + 0 Injuries : None Damage to aircraft : Lower fuselage, landing gear doors, flaps, both propellers, lower engine nacelles. All times given in this report is Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and will be denoted by (Z). South African Standard Time is UTC plus 2 hours. Purpose of the Investigation: In terms of Regulation 12.03.1 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (2011) this report was compiled in the interest of the promotion of aviation safety and the reduction of the risk of aviation accidents or incidents and not to establish blame or liability. Disclaimer: This report is produced without prejudice to the rights of the CAA, which are reserved. CA 12-40 13 February 2018 Page 2 of 12 1. SYNOPSIS 1.1 The pilot being the sole occupant on board the aircraft departed FALA with the intention of repositioning the aircraft to FAGM. On approach to runway 11 at FAGM, the pilot observed a landing gear unsafe warning. 1.2 The pilot carried out troubleshooting and attempted to manually extend the landing gear. After the troubleshooting process the pilot elected to use runway 29 for landing. On touch down the landing gear collapsed causing the aircraft to lose directional control and exit the runway to the left. 2. HISTORY OF FLIGHT 2.1 On Wednesday, 8 March 2017, the pilot accompanied by two passengers departed Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (FBSK) in Botswana on a non-schedule international flight to Lanseria Airport (FALA) in Johannesburg. On arrival at FALA the three occupants disembarked from the aircraft and cleared customs. On completion of this procedure, the pilot being the sole occupant on board repositioned the aircraft to Rand Aerodrome (FAGM) where it was hangered. 2.2 The pilot was cleared by air traffic control (ATC) at FAGM to land Runway 11. On final approach the pilot observed that he had a landing gear unsafe warning and requested to perform a go around. The warning to the pilot was the landing gear switch light that illuminated, this light cannot be cancelled. The aircraft was also equipped with an intermittent warning horn. He then requested ATC to observe if the landing gear was down as he performed a low level fly past the tower. 2.3 ATC reported that the landing gear does not appear to be down as the nose gear was only partially extended and the main landing gears were not visible. The pilot then advised ATC that he will be routing to the general flying area to try and rectify the problem. He indicated that he cycled the gear several times but failed to obtain three green lights in the cockpit. He then engaged the auto pilot and followed the landing gear manual extension procedure as stipulated in the pilot’s operating handbook (POH), Section 3 as listed below: 1. Airspeed - ESTABLISH 125 KNOTS 2. Landing Gear Relay Circuit Breaker (pilot’s right subpanel) - PULL 3. Landing Gear Switch Handle - DOWN CA 12-40 13 February 2018 Page 3 of 12 4. Emergency Engage Handle - LIFT AND TURN CLOCKWISE TO THE STOP TO ENGAGE 5. Extension lever - PUMP up and down until 3 green GEAR DOWN lights are illuminated WARNING If for any reason the green GEAR DOWN lights do not illuminate (i.e., in case of electrical system failure), continue pumping until sufficient resistance is felt to ensure that the gear is down and locked, even though this procedure may damage the drive mechanism. 2.4 After being airborne for approximately 40 minutes he was still not able to obtain three green lights. He then opted to return to FAGM and requested another fly past and asked ATC if they can observe the position of the landing gear. 2.5 The pilot was advised that the landing gear appears to be down. At this stage it was dark already and it was difficult for people in the tower to make an accurate observation of the landing gear position. The pilot again informed them that he did not have three green lights in the cockpit. 2.6 He then opted to execute a full stop landing and he requested runway 29 as it was the longer of the two runways. The aerodrome rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) personnel were placed on standby. The pilot stated that on short final approach he opted to shut down both engines and feathered both propellers and glided the aircraft in. 2.7 At 1729Z the aircraft touched down, the pilot stated that following a gentle touchdown the landing gear appeared to hold but as soon as the nose wheel touched the landing gear collapsed. He was unable to maintain directional control and the aircraft veered off the runway to the left. ARFF vehicles followed the aircraft and rendered assistance once it came to halt. 2.8 The aircraft sustain damage to lower fuselage, landing gear doors, flaps and propellers. Two runway lights were severed when the aircraft veered off the runway surface. The pilot was not injured. CA 12-40 13 February 2018 Page 4 of 12 3. FACTUAL INFORMATION 3.1 The pilot held a valid commercial pilot’s licence (CPL) which was initially issued on the 29th September 2009 and expiring on the 28th September 2019. The pilot had the necessary rating to operate the aircraft.