Incident Overview
On the morning of 27 April 2025, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration ZS-FWR, was conducting a training flight under Part 141 from Cape Winelands Aerodrome (FAWN), Western Cape. The crew comprised a flight instructor and a student pilot. The aircraft had approximately 140 litres of Avgas and oil at level six.
Sequence of Events
The flight took off from Runway 05 at about 0550Z. After a standard circuit and a successful touch-and-go landing, the aircraft completed another circuit. During the final approach, the flight instructor initiated a simulated engine failure by reducing power. When power was increased to exit the simulation, the engine misfired, ran rough, and lost power. The instructor declared a PAN-PAN call to FAWN ATC on 131.10 MHz and diverted toward the aerodrome while performing fault-finding checks. Unable to restore power, a forced landing was executed on a farmland approximately 3 nautical miles north-east of the aerodrome. The landing was safe; neither occupant was injured, and the aircraft sustained no damage. Post-landing fuel check showed about 128 litres remaining.
Investigation Findings
An engineer inspected the engine and found that the right magneto had failed. Subsequent examination by an approved aircraft maintenance organisation identified a broken distributor gear within the magneto as the root cause. The failed magneto was replaced, and after installation the engine ran satisfactorily during ground testing. A scat hose connecting the engine cowl to the carburettor intake was found detached; this was attributed to engine backfiring as a secondary effect of the magneto failure, not the initial cause.
Probable Cause
The mechanical failure of the right magneto due to the breakdown of the distributor gear caused the engine to misfire and lose power.
Contributing Factor
Detachment of the scat hose.
Conclusion
The forced landing was a result of the magneto failure. No safety actions or recommendations were issued.