What happened
On 31 March 2006, a private flight departed from Empangeni Aerodrome, bound for a private farm airstrip located to the west of the airfield. The pilot, flying a X-AIR registered as ZU-CAM, confirmed prior to takeoff that the aircraft contained roughly 45 litres of fuel and that the fuel appeared free from contamination.
As the aircraft approached the destination, the pilot performed a low-power fly-past to inspect the runway. While executing a right-hand turn to join the landing circuit, the engine suddenly failed. The pilot noted the presence of high-tension wires directly ahead on the flight path. To avoid the wires and complete a forced landing, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft underneath the lines and into a nearby sugar cane field. During the touchdown, the nose wheel struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the nose wheel and the lower nose section of the aircraft. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's engine and fuel system following the event. While the pilot had checked the fuel for contaminants before departure, a post-accident inspection of the carburettor bowls revealed an unidentified white, jelly-like substance. No other mechanical defects were identified in the engine that could have contributed to the loss of power. Maintenance records showed the aircraft had undergone its last annual inspection on 20 August 2005, with 46.7 flight hours accumulated since that service.