What happened
On August 4, 2001, a Sycamore MK 1- Gyrocopter, registered as ZU-CCY, was involved in an accident during a private flight operation in Babsfontein. While attempting to depart, the pilot encountered sudden wind shear, which led to a loss of control. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground, resulting in damage to the airframe, the landing gear, the rotor blades, and the propeller. There were no injuries or fatalities reported in the incident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators reviewed the maintenance and operational history of the aircraft. Records indicated that the gyrocopter had undergone an annual inspection on June 2, 2001, and was operating under a Special flight permit that was valid at the time of the accident. Since that annual inspection, the aircraft had only accumulated two hours of flight time. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot held a valid private license and that the third-party legal liability insurance for the aircraft was active.