What happened
On the morning of 1 June 2022, a flight instructor and a student pilot departed Cape Town International Airport for a routine training flight to Stellenbosch Airport. The flight, conducted under visual flight rules, was intended to include touch-and-go landing exercises. After successfully completing a touch-and-go at Stellenbosch, the Piper PA-28R-200 began its climb.
At approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter, accompanied by severe vibrations and a significant drop in manifold pressure. Despite the instructor's attempts to troubleshoot the issue by cycling the fuel pump, adjusting the mixture, and checking the magnetos, the engine power remained insufficient for flight.
With limited altitude, the instructor identified the R44 road in Firgrove as the only viable landing site. During the emergency descent, the aircraft's left wing struck a road traffic sign pole. This impact caused the aircraft to yaw and pitch downward, leading to a nose-gear failure upon contact with the road. The Piper PA-28R-200, registration ZS-WAP, was destroyed in the sequence. The instructor sustained minor injuries, while the student pilot suffered serious injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's maintenance history. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and had undergone a periodic inspection shortly before the accident.
Technical examinations of the engine components—including the crankshaft, connecting rods, and camshaft—revealed no mechanical anomalies. Furthermore, the ignition and fuel systems were ruled out as potential causes. The propeller and its governing system also showed no evidence of pre-impact damage.
Findings
- The engine experienced a sudden loss of power during the climb phase.
- The instructor attempted standard emergency procedures to restore power, but the engine continued to malfunction.
- The aircraft struck a roadside sign pole during the forced landing maneuver.
- The specific cause of the engine failure could not be determined due to a lack of available evidence.