What happened
On 16 June 2021, a Savannah MXP-740V, registration ZU-ENP, was conducting a private flight from Margate Aerodrome in KwaZulu-Natal toward a private airstrip in the Eastern Cape. The flight, carrying a pilot and one passenger, proceeded under visual meteorological conditions without a filed flight plan.
Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 1,000 feet, the pilot observed erratic indications on the engine oil temperature gauge. To prevent potential engine damage, the pilot elected to shut down the engine and performed a forced landing in an open area near a beach north of Port St John's. While the touchdown was successful, the nose wheel of the aircraft dug into soft sand during the ground roll, causing the propeller to strike the ground. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries resulting from the event, though the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
Following the incident, the pilot performed a post-landing inspection of the engine and cockpit. A visual check of the Rotax 912-ULS engine revealed no external oil leaks. However, upon inspecting the engine casing, the pilot discovered that the electrical wire for the oil temperature sensor was loose. After securing the wire with pliers, the pilot verified that the oil temperature gauge returned to normal readings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the forced landing was a faulty signal from the electrical temperature sensor wire, which had become improperly secured.
- This loose connection created erratic temperature readings on the cockpit instruments, prompting the precautionary engine shutdown.