Accident Details
On Monday, 23 August 2021, at 1035Z, a pilot flying solo on-board a Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub with registration ZS-CKP took off from Port Alfred Aerodrome (FAPA) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The flight was a post-maintenance test flight following a mandatory periodic inspection, conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) day and Part 43 of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
Before departure, the aircraft was taxied to the fuel bay and 100 litres of Avgas was added, bringing the total fuel to 110 litres. The pilot then taxied to the run-up bay for pre-flight checks, which were within specified limits. Take-off was from Runway 28L and was without incident.
Engine Failure and Pilot Actions
Shortly after rotation and during climb at approximately 600 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine stopped. The pilot switched the fuel feed from the left tank to the right tank, and the engine restarted momentarily but then stopped again. The pilot decided to execute a teardrop turn to align with Runway 10L for a forced landing. However, due to rapid loss of height, the teardrop turn could not be completed.
Impact and Damage
The aircraft impacted the ground hard on the left side of Runway 10L. The impact caused substantial damage, including to the engine cradle, propeller, fuselage, and engine cowling. The pilot was not injured during the accident sequence.
Investigation Findings
After the accident, the engine was inspected and no anomalies were found. The engine was removed from the aircraft and bench-tested for 20 minutes. No anomalies were observed during the bench test; the engine performed according to the manufacturer's specifications in the Lycoming Operators Manual.
The investigation was conducted off-site by the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID). The probable cause was determined to be the engine stopping during climb, resulting in an unsuccessful forced landing. However, the cause of the engine stoppage could not be determined.