Cessna 210B Forced Landing on Tar Road Near Military Base (ZS-CTZ)

Incident Overview On 8 December 2005, a Cessna 210B with registration ZS-CTZ experienced an engine failure while descending from flight level 085 to 065 due to turbulence. The pilot, holding a valid commercial licence, made a successful forced landing on a tar road between Mookgopong and Tuinplaas, near a military base. No injuries or fatalities were reported. ## Investigation Findings During a ground inspection, the pilot discovered that the right-hand fuel tank cap was leaking, with a blue stain around the cap. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector to the left-hand tank, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The pilot followed emergency procedures, including a mayday call to Johannesburg Information. An engineer inspected the aircraft on site and reported no anomalies during the start-up. ## Regulatory Context The pilot held a valid commercial licence and a medical certificate expiring on 31 October 2006. However, the Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) that certified the last Major Periodic Inspection (MPI) on the aircraft was not in possession of a valid approval certificate. The last SACAA audit was conducted on 18 September 2002, with an expiry date of 30 September 2003. No SACAA audits were recorded during 2004 and 2005. A subsequent audit was conducted on 23 May 2006, with an expiry date of 30 September 2006.