What happened
On 24 June 2006, a Zenair Zodiac, registration ZU-CWY, was conducting a proving flight departing from Howick Aerodrome (FAHC) in KwaZulu Natal. Shortly after departing from Runway 34, the aircraft reached an altitude of roughly 450 feet above ground level when the engine began to lose power. Approximately thirty seconds after the initial power loss, the engine failed completely. The pilot, who was accompanied by the aircraft's builder and owner, managed to identify an open field adjacent to the Midmar dam and executed a forced landing. The landing was completed without incident, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The investigation reviewed the circumstances surrounding the flight, noting that the aircraft was operating under a valid Proving Flight Authority, which was active at the time of the event. The Zenair Zodiac had recorded only 31.4 airframe hours since its construction. No on-site investigation was performed at the landing site.
Findings
- The engine experienced a gradual loss of power followed by a total failure during the initial climb.
- The pilot successfully performed an uneventful forced landing in a field near Midmar dam.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries resulting from the incident.
- The specific reason for the engine failure could not be determined conclusively.