What happened
On 6 November 2021, a Cheetah 912 ULS aircraft, registration ZU-CXY, departed from Middelburg Aerodrome (FAMB) in Mpumalanga for a local flight near Loskop Dam. The flight was being conducted under visual flight rules as a private operation. After completing standard pre-takeoff checks and ensuring oil pressure and temperature were stable, the pilot departed from Runway 1s.
During the climb, at an altitude of approximately 350 feet above ground level, the pilot initiated a left turn. Shortly after, the engine began losing power, causing the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly. In an attempt to return to the aerodrome and land on Runway 20, the pilot executed a left turn, but the aircraft entered a spin. Despite efforts to recover using right rudder and control stick inputs, the aircraft lost forward airspeed and crash-landed on the grass near the runway edge. The impact caused the nose gear to break, resulting in the aircraft flipping over. The two occupants escaped the 0 fatalities incident without injury, though the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance and operational history. The investigation noted that the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection in August 2021, but had been parked for several months prior to the accident. During the inspection of the engine components, investigators found that the carburettors were dirty and contained broken gaskets.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was calculated at 625.9kg, which was 65.9kg over the maximum allowable limit specified in the operator's manual.