What happened
On 02 June 2005, a Piper PA-25, registration ZS-FDT, was engaged in commercial agricultural spraying operations near Shafton Aerodrome in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. While performing crop spraying maneuvers, the aircraft struck high-tension power lines. The pilot, who was operating under an agricultural pilot rating, reported that the power lines became obscured from view during the course of the mission. Although the impact resulted in severe damage to the aircraft, the pilot escaped the crash without any injuries.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation reviewed the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's maintenance history. The pilot held a valid medical certificate and the necessary ratings for the operation. Regarding the aircraft's airworthiness, the last Maintenance Program Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 27 April 2005, with the aircraft having flown 24.2 hours since that inspection. The investigation also noted that the Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) 182 had recently undergone an audit, which resulted in identified findings that were addressed via an acceptable corrective action plan.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate lookout, which led to the collision with the high-tension lines.
- A significant contributing factor was the loss of situational awareness while performing the specialized task of crop spraying.