What happened
On 25 March 2026, a pilot departed Kitty Hawk Aerodrome (FAKT) in Gauteng Province for a private ferry flight to Rhino Park Aerodrome. The Jabiru SP aircraft, registered ZU-CKU, was being moved for its annual inspection as its Authority-to-Fly certificate had recently expired. The aircraft had been stored in a hangar for approximately nine months prior to the flight. During pre-flight preparations, the pilot experienced difficulty starting the engine and replaced the battery with assistance from maintenance personnel. After refueling and inflating the tires, the pilot completed pre-take-off checks and commenced the take-off roll from Runway 01.
Shortly after rotation, while climbing to approximately 500 feet above ground level, the engine stopped. The pilot attempted a restart without success and declared an emergency. Unable to regain power, the aircraft descended in a nose-low attitude and impacted the ground beyond the threshold of Runway 19. The airframe scraped along the asphalt, broke through the aerodrome perimeter fence, and came to rest at the bottom of an embankment approximately 50 meters from the runway. The pilot sustained serious lower back injuries requiring surgery, while the aircraft suffered substantial damage, including the collapse of the landing gear.
The investigation — what SACAA AIID examined and established
SACAA’s Accident and Incident Investigations Division conducted a limited investigation into the occurrence. Examiners reviewed maintenance records, logbooks, and physical evidence from the wreckage. They noted that the aircraft had been involved in a previous accident at the same aerodrome in July 2024 but was returned to service in March 2025. The engine, a Jabiru 2200A, was recovered and subjected to ground testing.
During post-accident testing, the engine started normally after a temporary replacement of the left ignition coil, though it ran smoothly once the original coil was reinstalled. Fuel flow tests exceeded minimum requirements, and spark plugs showed no signs of moisture or contamination. The fuel carburettor bowl contained clean fuel, with only minor fragments of gasket sealant present. Despite passing these ground checks, the engine failed to restart in-flight immediately after the stoppage, suggesting an intermittent fault or a condition not replicated during static testing.
Findings
The investigation established that the engine lost power shortly after take-off at an altitude insufficient for safe recovery. The exact mechanical cause of the failure could not be definitively determined because post-accident tests revealed no persistent operational anomalies. However, several contributing factors were identified:
- Extended inactivity: The aircraft had been stored for nine months without evidence of engine preservation procedures required by the manufacturer for storage exceeding 60 days.
- Pre-flight indications: Difficulty starting the engine and the need to replace the battery prior to the flight suggested potential degradation due to prolonged storage.
- Low altitude failure: The stoppage occurred during the initial climb, limiting the pilot’s options for a safe forced landing.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations were issued in this limited report. However, the investigation highlighted the critical importance of adhering to manufacturer preservation procedures for stored aircraft. It emphasized that normal ground runs may not reveal latent defects caused by inactivity, and operators must ensure comprehensive maintenance compliance before returning long-stored aircraft to service.