Accident Overview
On 1 July 2000 at 0900Z, a Piper PA28R-180 (registration ZS-FVH) operated by a commercial pilot for advanced training crashed after takeoff at Bethlehem Airport, South Africa. The pilot held a valid commercial license with 940 total flying hours, including 35 hours on type. The aircraft had two persons on board; neither was injured or killed. Weather was fine.
Flight Details
Prior to the flight, the aircraft had been taken to a maintenance facility to change the fuel booster pump after reports of rough engine operation. Later that day, the pilot retrieved the aircraft for a training flight. During the pre-flight inspection, fuel pressure was noted as abnormally high, but this was not questioned. While taxiing with the fuel booster pump switched off, no abnormalities were observed.
At the holding point, power checks were conducted; all indications were within limits. After lining up on the runway, the pilot switched on the fuel booster pump and applied full power against the brakes for a longer-than-normal duration to ensure normal operation. After takeoff, with the booster pump still on, fuel flow became erratic, surging between 12 and 0 gallons per hour. Shortly thereafter, the engine failed and the aircraft crashed, sustaining substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
No on-site investigation was carried out. Post-accident examination revealed that the circuit breaker for the fuel booster pump was tripped. After resetting the circuit breaker, the engine started and ran normally, but when the fuel booster pump was switched off, the engine failed. Both the fuel booster pump and the engine-driven fuel pump were examined and found serviceable; however, the fuel booster pump circuit breaker was defective.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not determine the root cause of the engine failure, but identified a faulty fuel booster pump circuit breaker and the pilot's decision to proceed with the flight despite known issues as contributing factors.