What happened
On 13 March 2005, an Aviatika 890 microlight, registration ZU-BBI, was conducting a private pleasure flight near White River. While returning to a private aerodrome, the pilot attempted a go-around after waiting for another aircraft to clear the runway. During the downwind leg of the circuit, approximately 1 km from the airfield, the pilot attempted to increase power, but the throttle cable failed.
With the engine unable to respond to throttle inputs, the pilot searched for an alternative landing site. After initially selecting a field that proved unsuitable, the pilot opted to land in a patch of ploughed farmland. During the approach, the aircraft lost sufficient airspeed, leading to a decay in lift. The aircraft struck soft sand, causing the nose landing gear to collapse and resulting in significant damage to the wings, propeller, and cockpit. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries as a result of the impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and its maintenance history. The aircraft had recently undergone its annual inspection on 1 March 2005, with only 13.8 hours flown since that certification. The investigation focused on the failure of the throttle mechanism during the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine power failure was that the accelerator cable had corroded inside its protective casing, leading to its eventual breakage.
- The pilot's decision to land in ploughed land was necessitated by the loss of engine control.
- The structural damage to the Aviatika 890 was caused by the impact with soft sand and the subsequent failure of the nose gear.