Cessna 150F Engine Fire at Margate Airport (ZS-EGZ)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 18 August 2024, a Cessna 150F aircraft, registration ZS-EGZ, was involved in an accident at Margate Airport (FAMG) in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The aircraft, which had a serial number of 150-63463, was operating under Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011. At the time of the occurrence, the aircraft had accumulated 8,528.55 total airframe hours. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, with no fatalities or injuries reported among the one person on board or on the ground. ## Sequence of Events The pilot, a male holding a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL), had departed from Virginia Airport (FAVG) earlier that morning and landed at FAMG at approximately 0900Z. After parking the aircraft on the grass near a hangar, the pilot went to a local restaurant for breakfast. At approximately 0950Z, the pilot returned to the aircraft to conduct a pre-flight inspection for the return flight to FAVG. The aircraft was refuelled with 14 litres of AVGAS 100LL, bringing the total fuel on board to 59 litres. During the engine start sequence, the pilot primed the engine twice. The engine cranked but failed to start on the first attempt. After two unsuccessful attempts, the pilot performed a hot start procedure on the third attempt, during which smoke was observed coming from the engine cowlings. The pilot immediately disembarked and sought assistance from the airport's fire department. Upon their return, the pilot and the firefighting team found the aircraft on fire. The fire was extinguished by the firefighting personnel, and the damage was primarily concentrated in the forward engine cowlings section. ## Findings and Probable Cause The investigation determined that the pilot's qualifications, experience, and medical fitness met regulatory requirements. The aircraft was airworthy, and no anomalies were noted in the maintenance records. The probable cause of the accident was identified as the engine being flooded with fuel during the priming procedure. A subsequent hot start procedure, performed without clearing the flooded engine as recommended in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), led to the ignition of the excess fuel. The fire damage was exacerbated by the pilot's failure to use the on-board fire extinguisher. The contributing factor was the use of an improper starting procedure.