What happened
On 1 August 2001, a CESSNA 182R, registered as ZS-KNJ, was conducting a private flight from Pella aerodrome in the Northern Cape toward Oranjemund, Namibia. Roughly five minutes after departing Pella, the pilot encountered a sudden and significant loss of engine power. To avoid a more serious incident, the pilot performed a forced landing on a nearby dirt road. While the aircraft avoided hitting obstacles, the nose gear collapsed upon impact, causing damage to the propeller and the nose section. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the engine following the incident. An Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) conducted a test run of the engine after it had been recovered, which confirmed that the engine was not performing at an acceptable level. A detailed inspection of the induction system was performed to identify the source of the power reduction.
Findings
Technical analysis determined that an adhesive label, which contained the manufacturer's instructions, had become detached from the air filter. This label was sucked into the carburetor heat box and subsequently became lodged inside the carburetor. This obstruction restricted airflow, leading to the engine power loss that necessitated the emergency landing.