What happened
On February 27, 2022, a Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six, registered as 9J-RDN, was involved in an accident near the Mulobezi airstrip in Zambia's Western Province. The aircraft, operated by Taurus Aviation, had completed a morning flight from Siandunda airstrip and was performing a short scenic flight in the area before landing at Mulobe and conducting local business.
At approximately 13:30 hours, the pilot and three passengers prepared for a departure toward Livingstone. During the initial climb out from runway 03, the engine began running roughly. In an attempt to rectify the issue, the pilot switched fuel tanks; however, this was immediately followed by total engine failure. Due to the low altitude, the pilot focused on finding a landing site rather than attempting an engine restart. The aircraft veered left and struck shrubs approximately 652 meters from the runway threshold, eventually coming to rest upside down. While the aircraft sustained extensive damage and was destroyed, there were no fatalities, though the passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the mechanical state of the engine and the pilot's actions during the emergency. Technical examinations of the Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 engine revealed that the fuel system, air filter, and ignition components were serviceable. Investigators found no evidence of air starvation or mechanical failure in the throttle, mixture, or propeller controls. Notably, the condition of the propeller blades indicated that the engine was still producing power at the moment of impact.
However, the investigation noted discrepancies in maintenance records, specifically a failure to log fuel replenishments in the aircraft technical log. The team also reviewed the pilot's training history, noting that the pilot had recently undergone a conversion training program to obtain a Zambian PPL.