What happened
On 6 October 2021, a Jabiru 430 with registration ZU-SMP departed Upington Airfield in the Northern Cape, bound for Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. The flight, operated under private provisions, included the pilot and two passengers. During the initial leg of the journey to Karoo Gateway Airport, the pilot noted intermittent engine power fluctuations, with the RPM oscillating approximately six times.
After refueling the aircraft to its full 135-litre capacity at Karoo Gateway Airport, the pilot attempted a takeoff from Runway 08. As the aircraft reached a speed between 65 and 75 knots, it rotated. However, at an altitude of roughly 50 feet, the left wing dropped and the aircraft drifted left. Realizing the aircraft was unable to maintain a climb, the pilot shut down the engine and performed an emergency landing in a nearby field. The aircraft struck the ground on its left wing and spun before coming to a halt.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance and weight parameters during the takeoff roll. It was determined that the aircraft's weight at the time of the accident was 751 kg, which exceeded the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 700kg. Furthermore, calculations revealed that the center of gravity was positioned outside the recommended envelope. Environmental factors also played a role, as the density altitude was calculated at 4,733ft, a condition that would have required even greater runway length had the aircraft been within its legal weight limits.