Synopsis (SACAA)
On Thursday afternoon, 28 October 2021, a pilot on-board a Rand KR-2 two-seat highperformance aircraft with registration ZS-UKU took off on a private flight from Kitty Hawk Aerodrome (FAKT), located south-east of Pretoria in Boschkop, Gauteng province, with the intention to return to the same aerodrome. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the flight. According to the first eyewitness, the aircraft entered the aerobatic box situated west of FAKT; thereafter, the pilot executed a few aerobatic-type manoeuvres before flying towards the south. The second eyewitness saw the aircraft overhead his house flying at an estimated height of 500 feet above ground level (AGL).
The aircraft then made a high-speed left turn during which the right wing broke off-in-flight. As a result, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and crashed at Tierpoort farm, approximately 0.57 nautical miles (nm) south of FAKT Runway 01. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured during the accident. Post-accident examination of the failed right-wing aileron indicated that the right-wing separation was triggered by the aileron aerodynamic flutter which was caused by the aileron that was not balanced in accordance with (IAW) the Rand Robinson Engineering Build Manual.
Probable Cause (SACAA)
The pilot lost control of the aircraft after the right-wing broke off-in-flight due to the aileron aerodynamic flutter.
Contributing Factor (SACAA)
The aileron was under balanced to the extent of 60 kilograms per millimetre (kg/mm) residual moment.
Comments by Charlie Marais
This story is from the August 2022 edition of African Pilot.
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This story is from the August 2022 edition of African Pilot.
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