What happened
On the morning of 23 October 2021, a pilot operating a Bantam B22J with registration ZU-CYK departed from Bathawk City Aerodrome in Mpumalanga for a private flight. After completing initial touch-and-go landings, the pilot took off again with a passenger on board. Shortly after climbing to 500 feet, the engine's revolutions per minute dropped significantly from 2600 to 2300. Despite attempts to adjust the throttle, the pilot could not recover the lost power and opted to perform a forced landing in a field approximately 2 nautical miles north of the aerodrome.
While the initial phase of the landing was successful, the aircraft's nose wheel struck an anthill. This impact caused the aircraft to nose over, ultimately coming to rest in an inverted position. Both occupants managed to unbuckle their harnesses and exit the aircraft without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine, a Jabiru 2200A. While the propeller blades were shattered, the distribution of the fragments confirmed the engine was still rotating at the time of impact. An examination of the engine following the accident showed that it started without fault and operated normally across various RPM settings during testing. No issues were found with the spark plugs, and the fuel sample provided by the owner was found to be clean and free of contaminants.
Technical inspections confirmed that the aircraft had been maintained according to regulations, with the last annual inspection completed approximately 63 flight hours prior to the accident. The pilot was found to hold a valid National Pilot Licence and a current medical certificate.