What happened
On the afternoon of 5 October 2023, a Titan Tornado S aircraft, registration ZU-ITA, crashed in bushy terrain west of Ceres Airfield in the Western Cape. The flight was a private operation traveling from Ceres Airfield (FACE) to New Tempe Aerodrome in Bloemfontein.
Shortly after departing from Runway 27, the aircraft's engine ceased functioning while the pilot was at an altitude of approximately 250 feet. An eyewitness observed the pilot attempting to restart the engine before the aircraft entered a left turn. During this maneuver, the left wing dropped, leading to a loss of control and a nose-down impact. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the engine, a Rotax 914UL. While fuel samples from the tanks, filters, and carburettors showed no contamination, the investigation uncovered that the engine had undergone unapproved modifications. These alterations were not documented in the engine logbook, and there was no evidence of subsequent testing or certification.
Additionally, while the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Registration, its Authority to Fly was invalid at the time of the accident because the Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) had expired in August 2023. Investigators also noted that the pilot had expressed dissatisfaction with the aircraft's condition in a private message the day before the flight.