What happened
On the morning of 11 May 2024, a private flight departed from Delarey and was en route to Springs Aerodrome. The aircraft, a Magni Gyro M-22 with registration ZU-EGA, was operating under visual meteorological conditions. Following a standard pre-flight inspection, the pilot commenced the takeoff roll on Runway 03.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 65 feet, it experienced a loss of height. Despite the drop in altitude, the engine continued to operate normally with no signs of mechanical failure or fluctuations in RPM. Realizing the aircraft was unable to maintain its climb, the pilot initiated an emergency forced landing into a sunflower field on a nearby farm. During the landing roll, the nose wheel struck a furrow in the ground, causing the landing gear strut to collapse and resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's weight, environmental conditions, and maintenance status. The inquiry focused on why the aircraft failed to climb despite a functional engine. Investigators calculated the density altitude at the time of departure to be approximately 6,402.9 feet, a high-density altitude environment that significantly impacts rotor lift and climb performance. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance logs and confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance and registration documents were valid at the time of the incident.