What happened
On 09 October 2005, a Maule M-5-210T, registration ZS-KUB, departed Krugersdorp Aerodrome (FAKR) for a private pleasure flight. The flight was intended to be a short trip through the Hartebeespoort and Magaliesburg areas, returning to the same aerodrome. After refueling with 106 litres of Avgas, the aircraft took off from runway 26.
During the initial climb, at an altitude between 100 and 150 feet, the engine backfired and began running very roughly. The pilot attempted to rectify the issue by cycling the throttle and mixture controls and adjusting the fuel selector to both tanks, but the engine failed to produce sufficient power to maintain altitude. Facing mountainous terrain near the runway threshold, the pilot executed a turn toward a farm approximately 1km north of the aerodrome and issued a Mayday call on the 122.00 MHz VHF frequency.
While performing the forced landing on the farm, the aircraft encountered obstacles from a pivot irrigation system. The aircraft bounced upon touchdown, causing the right wing to strike a steel stay cable and pole. This impact sheared off the outer 1.5m of the wing, causing the aircraft to yaw and roll violently to the right. The heavy impact resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear and the tail wheel, and the propeller subsequently struck the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's maintenance history. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had undergone its last annual inspection on 10 June 2005, with only 14.2 hours flown since that service. The engine, a Lycoming/TO-F1A6D, was tested on-site; despite damage to the propeller blades, the engine started and ran normally without any signs of mechanical malfunction or component failure.
Further checks established that the fuel on board was the correct type (Avgas) and was free from contamination. The investigation also found that the pilot held a valid private pilot's licence with the appropriate type rating and that the aircraft's maintenance was up to date. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear with no significant cloud cover or wind issues.
Findings
- The engine experienced a loss of power during the initial climb phase.
- The primary cause of the engine power loss was attributed to incorrect fuel mixture settings prior to takeoff.
- The severe damage to the wing, landing gear, and propeller was caused by the aircraft striking irrigation equipment during the forced landing.