Incident Overview
On 7 November 2015, a Jabiru J430 micro-light aircraft, registration ZU-MJM, experienced an engine stoppage during a private flight, resulting in a forced landing on a beach near Richards Bay Harbour, KwaZulu-Natal Province. The aircraft, operated by a private pilot under Part 94, sustained damage including the loss of its propeller. No injuries occurred.
Flight Details
The pilot, accompanied by his wife, departed from Richards Bay Aerodrome (FARB) at 0728Z for a coastal flight to Mntinzini. During the turn back to FARB, the pilot noted a slight vibration from the engine and airframe but continued the flight. At 0857Z, the pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC) at FARB, reporting "inbound approaching the aerodrome from the south, experiencing a rough running engine." ATC inquired if he was declaring an emergency, to which the pilot replied negatively, stating the aircraft had full power and could maintain altitude.
Emergency and Landing
The pilot requested a straight-in approach for runway 05, which ATC acknowledged. At 0900Z, the pilot reported a very rough running engine and indicated he would climb seawards. Abeam the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, the engine stopped. At 0901Z, the pilot declared an engine failure 9 nautical miles south of Richards Bay Harbour and intended to land on the beach. ATC activated the crash alarm and requested further intentions for search and rescue. The pilot executed an uneventful forced landing on the beach above the water line. After disembarking, he noticed the propeller was missing and informed ATC. The propeller was not recovered by the conclusion of the investigation.
Investigation Findings
The pilot held a valid private pilot licence with the aircraft type endorsed, and had accumulated 472.8 hours on type. The aircraft had a valid Authority to Fly until 3 August 2016. The last annual inspection was on 4 August 2015 at 561.8 airframe hours; at the time of the incident, the total airframe hours were 583.7. The engine was removed post-incident and returned to the manufacturer. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction causing the engine stoppage was found. The propeller bolts were sheared and had to be removed mechanically from the crankshaft flange. The propeller was a Sensenich 2A0J5 two-bladed, ground-adjustable carbon fiber type. Weather conditions were not a factor.
Probable Cause and Contributory Factor
The probable cause is that the pilot executed an uneventful forced landing on an open section of beach following an engine stoppage in flight. A contributory factor was the inflight separation of the propeller, the cause of which could not be established.