What happened
On 10 October 2024, a Beech 58 aircraft, registration ZS-MCY, was conducting a private flight from Bethlehem Aerodrome to New Tempe Aerodrome in the Free State province. Approximately 20 minutes after departing Bethlehem, the pilot experienced a sudden engine sputter followed by a complete shutdown of both engines.
Upon realizing the aircraft was out of fuel, the pilot declared an emergency. Identifying a long, straight section of the N5 National Road between Senekral and Winburg, the pilot executed a 360-degree turn and attempted to land on the highway, noting the absence of traffic. During the landing roll on the uphill slope, the aircraft veered left, causing the left wingtip to strike hazard markers and a stormwater barrier. The aircraft came to rest in a trench beside the road. The pilot sustained bruises, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined engine data from the JPI EDM 790 management system, which confirmed that both engines ceased operation simultaneously due to fuel exhaustion. The investigation revealed that the aircraft had been flying for several hours across multiple sectors, consuming a total of approximately 116 gallons of fuel.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's pre-flight procedures and maintenance records. It was noted that the pilot had relied on external wing sight gauges rather than physical inspection of the fuel caps. Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft's flight folio had not been updated with recent fuel or oil uplifts for the previous eight flights, and the pilot had not utilized the fuel management functions available on the engine data unit.
Findings
- The primary cause of the dual engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot failed to perform a thorough pre-flight inspection to verify actual fuel levels, relying instead on external gauges that are difficult to read under sunlight or stress.
- The pilot did not adhere to the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) limitations, which prohibit takeoff if fuel gauges indicate levels below 13 US gallons per wing.
- There was a lack of proper flight planning and a failure to maintain accurate flight logs regarding fuel and oil consumption.
- The pilot's reliance on external sight gauges was problematic, as these gauges are only accurate within a specific range (40 to 60 US gallons) and can be obscured by glare.