What happened
On the morning of 31 December 2003, a Windlass Trike, registration ZS-WXN, departed from Kei Mouth Aerodrome in the Eastern Cape for a short-duration pleasure flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and a 10-year-old passenger. The flight was intended to last approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
While flying along the coastline in a westerly direction, the aircraft turned north toward the interior near the Double Mouth Nature Reserve. During the flight, an eyewitness observed a loud snapping sound accompanied by a sudden drop in engine RPM. The aircraft's wing was torn from its structure, causing the nose to dive into a hillside near the Double Mouth holiday camp. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries and died instantly upon impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the aircraft and the sequence of mechanical failures leading to the loss of control. Investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses who observed the flight path and the audible mechanical failure preceding the crash. The inquiry also reviewed the pilot's recent flight history, noting that the aircraft had been borrowed from a friend in Bloemfontein and had been used for several remunerated pleasure flights at Kei Mouth in the days leading up to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the pylon connection assembly, which serves to attach the wing to the pylon.
- This structural failure occurred due to fatigue that had developed over a period of time.
- The loss of the connection rendered the aircraft impossible to control, making the subsequent impact with the terrain unavoidable.