What happened
On 9 November 2006, a CGS Hawk micro-light, registration ZU-EDI, departed from Weltevrede Aerodrome for a demonstration flight carrying a pilot and one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, while at an altitude of roughly 500 feet, the pilot leveled the aircraft and began a right turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft's nose suddenly pitched downward, accompanied by a loud rattling sound from the engine.
Despite the unusual pitch, the pilot maintained rudder and aileron control, steering the aircraft away from nearby trees. Although increasing power caused the engine RPM to rise, the rattling noise intensified and the engine failed to produce effective thrust. Faced with a loss of power and control difficulties, the pilot executed a forced landing in an open field characterized by dense low bush. The aircraft touched down at approximately 70 mph with a tailwind. While the vegetation helped decelerate the aircraft within 50 meters, the soft, uneven terrain—marked by mole holes—resulted in damage to the nose wheel fork spindle. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft after it was recovered to a hangar. The inspection revealed that the aircraft had been involved in a bird strike at the connection point between the left-hand wing root and the roof structure. This impact tore the transparent plexiglass screening.
As the flight progressed, air pressure forced this detached screening to lift upward toward the engine area. The investigation established that the displaced material obstructed the airflow over the elevator and partially covered the propeller. This physical obstruction was responsible for the sudden change in pitch and the subsequent lack of engine thrust.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a bird strike at the wing root and roof structure connection.
- The impact caused the detachment of the aircraft's transparent screening.
- The displaced screening obstructed the elevator, leading to the sudden nose-down pitch.
- The screening also blanketed the propeller, preventing the engine from producing sufficient thrust to maintain flight.