What happened
On the morning of 20 January 2024, a Comp Air 750 SLX, registration ZU-FFT, departed Carletonville Aerodrome in Gauteng for a scheduled skydiving operation. The flight, carrying two pilots and three skydivers, was operating under visual meteorological conditions.
Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft was climbing past 200 feet, the crew noticed white smoke emerging from the exhaust and a significant drop in compressor speed. This was immediately followed by total engine failure. The crew initiated an emergency descent and identified an open field near a residential area for a precautionary landing. During the landing roll, the aircraft's left wing struck a small tree, causing the plane to spin 360 degrees before coming to a stop. While the aircraft was destroyed, all five occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the engine and the aircraft's control systems. A post-accident inspection of the Walter 601 Z engine by an approved maintenance organization found no internal mechanical defects or turbine damage, though the outer casing was distorted.
The investigation focused on the throttle quadrant, which had previously been modified by a maintenance organization. It was noted that the quadrant lacked a latching mechanism to secure the fuel control lever in the "on" position. Previous pilots had reported that this specific lever tended to drift backward, which would interrupt the fuel supply. Investigators also noted that essential technical documentation, including the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and Aircraft Maintenance Manual, could not be located by the operator or found in the regulator's library.