What happened
On the morning of 19 December 2021, a pilot and a passenger departed Plettenberg Bay (FAPG) Aerodrome in a Van’s RV-7, registration ZU-FYG, for a local flight. Approximately 19 minutes into the flight, while cruising at roughly 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine began to run roughly before eventually failing. The pilot attempted several emergency procedures, including adjusting the fuel mixture and switching fuel tanks, but was unable to restore power.
After broadcasting a distress call, the pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing on Erica PI Drive, a residential street. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a tree, a perimeter wall, and an access gate, causing substantial damage to the airframe. While the pilot escaped without injury, the passenger sustained minor injuries. No individuals on the ground were harmed during the incident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's maintenance and flight records. Physical inspection of the engine and propeller showed no evidence of mechanical failure or pre-impact malfunction. However, the investigation revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, containing less than one litre of unusable fuel, and the right tank had ruptured upon impact with a tree.
Discrepancies were noted regarding the fuel quantities reported. While the pilot claimed 50 litres of Avgas 100LL were on board at departure, flight log analysis suggested a significant amount of fuel was unaccounted for. Furthermore, investigators discovered that several major components, including the engine and avionics, were removed from the wreckage without authorization before the aircraft could be transported for further study.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine stoppage was fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft with an invalid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and without a valid medical certificate.
- The pilot was prohibited from operating the specific EFIS-equipped aircraft due to medical restrictions, which may have led to the misreading of fuel levels.
- The pilot's type conversion training for the Van’s RV-7 was not conducted according to required technical standards.
- There was a lack of proper fuel uplift record-keeping, and the actual fuel on board contradicted the pilot's initial statements.