Incident Overview
On 5 July 2002, at 1024Z, a Jabiru SP aircraft, registration ZU-SES, was engaged in a commercial geographical survey flight departing from and returning to Ellisras Aerodrome. The weather was reported as fine. The aircraft carried one person on board.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, the engine suddenly started running rough, accompanied by a partial loss of engine power. The engine oil temperature began to increase, and the pilot detected a smell of hot metal. Consequently, the survey flight was abandoned, and the pilot decided to return to Ellisras Aerodrome, where a safe landing was executed.
After shutdown, an attempt was made to rotate the engine by turning the propeller, but it was not possible. The assistance of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was called in, as the engine appeared to have seized during operation.
Investigation Findings
A tear-down inspection was conducted. It was found that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve had failed in fatigue. This failure resulted in secondary internal engine damage, followed by a subsequent engine seizure. No injuries or fatalities were reported.