What happened
On January 20, 2002, a Mooney M20G, registered ZS-FRO, departed from Virginia aerodrome bound for Ballito. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. Shortly after the takeoff sequence, the engine began spluttering and failed to maintain full power.
Due to the low altitude and the loss of engine performance, the pilot initiated an emergency procedure. After transmitting a Mayday call to Virginia Air Traffic Control, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing. The pilot retracted the undercarriage and glided the aircraft toward a beach area located just north of the Saragota block of flats. The landing was successful, and there were no fatalities or injuries reported. However, the aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller and the lower fuselage surface.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden loss of engine power and the mechanical state of the aircraft's fuel system. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the last Maintenance Period Inspection (MPI) had been completed approximately 33 flight hours prior to the accident. Records also showed that the left-hand fuel tank had undergone resealing in November 2001.
Upon inspecting the left-hand fuel tank, investigators discovered an unidentified object that was obstructing the fuel tank outlet.
Findings
- The engine failure was the result of fuel starvation.
- An unidentified object was found lodged in the left-hand fuel tank outlet, which restricted the flow of fuel to the engine.