What happened
On 23 November 2023, a Piper PA-28-180, registration ZS-CZR, was conducting circuit training at Vereeniging Airport (FAVV) in Gauteng Province. The flight, involving a flight instructor and a pilot trainee, proceeded normally through the first circuit. However, during the second circuit, while on final approach at approximately 545 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power.
Upon the loss of power, the instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted to restore engine function by adjusting the mixture to full rich and increasing the throttle, but these actions were unsuccessful. The crew identified an open field to the left of the flight path and executed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the aircraft's nose gear struck a muddy hole, causing the aircraft to nose over. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the nose wheel, propeller, wings, vertical stabilizer, and cabin area, as well as ruptured fuel tanks.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that both crew members were properly licensed and medically fit for the operation. A technical examination of the engine following the accident revealed no mechanical abnormalities or failures in the engine's internal components or supplementary systems.
Investigators reviewed the carburettor icing probability chart, which indicated a high likelihood of serious icing conditions during the descent. The investigation also noted that the crew had flown a wider-than-normal circuit and had already configured the aircraft with 40 degrees of flaps, which limited their ability to glide back to the runway threshold. The crew was also heavily focused on the training exercises, which prevented them from noticing the early warning signs of engine roughness.
Findings
- The engine power loss was likely caused by carburettor icing.
- The crew failed to apply carburettor heat or maintain awareness of icing conditions.
- The aircraft was configured with flaps extended, which hindered the ability to reach the runway during the forced landing.
- The nose-over during the landing roll was caused by the nose gear striking a muddy hole.