History of Flight
On Wednesday, 18 May 2022, at 0805Z, a pilot conducted a private flight in a Piper PA-25-235D Pawnee aircraft, registration ZS-BTL, from Runway 03 at Potchefstroom Aerodrome (FAPS) in the North West province. The intended destination was Bospan Airstrip, also in the same province. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) by day.
During the initial climb at approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL), the pilot observed the engine revolutions per minute (RPM) drop below 2 400 RPM when the gauge was expected to indicate 2 575 RPM. The pilot scanned the area and identified an open grass-covered field ahead of the aircraft’s flight path to conduct an emergency landing.
After touchdown on the grass-covered surface, the aircraft ran over a body of water, which caused the main landing gears to sink into the muddy soil. The aircraft subsequently nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
Injuries to Persons
The pilot did not sustain any injuries and disembarked from the aircraft unassisted.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was water-contaminated fuel leading to partial engine power loss during the initial climb phase, which led to the inability of the aircraft to climb. This prompted the pilot to perform a forced landing on an open area in a grass-covered wetland, which led to substantial damage to the aircraft.
Contributory Factor
The contributory factor identified was draining fuel samples too soon after refuelling; not allowing time for any impurities or contaminants in the fuel to settle into the drain sump or point of each tank before draining fuel samples.