What happened
On 01 October 2006, a Magni 22 gyroplane, registration ZU-DXL, was conducting a private scenic flight near a private aerodrome at Bunde game lodge in Naboomspruit. The pilot was accompanied by one passenger for the purpose of viewing a local game farm.
During the takeoff from runway 27, the aircraft departed in a westerly direction at an indicated airspeed of 70 mph. While the initial surface winds were moderate and northwesterly with gusts, the pilot encountered a sudden shift in wind direction shortly after leaving the ground. This atmospheric change resulted in a loss of lift, forcing the pilot to execute an immediate forced landing. The aircraft subsequently struck trees and bushes during the maneuver. Both occupants of the Magni 22 escaped the incident with no injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance status and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation established that the aircraft's Authority to Fly had expired on 01 September 2006. Although the last annual inspection had been completed on 01 September 2005, the aircraft had accumulated an additional 130.5 hours of flight time since that certification.
Findings
- The primary cause of the forced landing was a sudden change in wind direction following takeoff, which led to a loss of lift.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its nose section, tail section, rotors, and propeller upon colliding with vegetation.
- The aircraft was being operated with an invalid Authority to Fly.