What happened
On 23 February 2007, an Aerotrike Spirit II, registration ZU-AYE, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after departing from Runway 02 at Bapslotfontein Aerodrome. The pilot, flying on a private license, attempted an emergency forced landing in a ploughed field located approximately 1.5 km north of the aerodrome. While the pilot successfully reached the field, the aircraft's nose wheel sank into the soft soil during the landing roll. This caused the aircraft to flip onto its side, resulting in damage to the wings, propeller, and nose gear. The pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft and the engine following the incident. The engine was removed for a teardown inspection by an approved person. This inspection revealed that the big end bearing on the aft cylinder had failed. While the inspection confirmed the failure, neither the engine manufacturer nor the inspecting technician could definitively determine the underlying cause of the bearing's failure. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's last annual inspection had been completed approximately 33 hours prior to the accident, and the pilot held all necessary valid medical and pilot certifications.