What happened
On 27 March 2001, a Piper PA 34-220T, registration ZS-MNJ, was conducting a charter flight from Virginia Aerodrome toward Lanseria Airport. While cruising through the Harrismith region, the aircraft's left-hand engine suffered a loss of power.
Following the engine failure, the pilot assessed the situation and estimated approximately 20 minutes of flight time remaining before reaching Frankfort. Due to concerns regarding the sustained use of maximum power on the remaining right-hand engine, the pilot opted to increase power to roughly 85% and began a gradual descent. As the aircraft approached the main road connecting Vrede and Frankfort, the pilot was at an altitude of approximately 200 feet. The pilot then executed an emergency landing on the roadway. The aircraft came to a stop on the road before rolling into a nearby safe area. There were no injuries to the four occupants on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft's powerplants to determine the origin of the power loss. The inquiry established that the failure originated within the left-hand engine.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was a fatigue crack in the cylinder head of the number six cylinder.
- The pilot's decision to descend and land on the road was necessitated by the inability to maintain altitude using only the right-hand engine at high power settings.