What happened
On 8 April 2003, a PIPER 28-181, registered as ZS-ONA, was conducting circuit and landing training at Grand Central Aerodrome. The flight profile included simulated engine failure procedures following takeoff. After completing three successful circuits, the aircraft was on its fourth circuit following a touch-and-go maneuver when the engine ceased to function during the recovery phase of the simulated emergency.
At an altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground, the pilot attempted to apply power to recover the aircraft; however, the engine failed to respond to the throttle input. This necessitated an emergency landing in a grass field located roughly one nautical mile west of the extended centerline of Runway 17. Despite the forced landing, there were no injuries and the aircraft sustained no damage. Following the incident, the engine was successfully ground-tested, and the aircraft was subsequently recovered to Grand Central Aerodrome.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine's failure to respond to power application. The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the transition from the simulated failure to the recovery phase, as well as the mechanical state of the engine's fuel-air mixture during the maneuver.