What happened
On 28 August 2009, a group of three gyroplanes was conducting a cross-country flight from Aggenys toward Vredendal in the Northern Cape. The aircraft were flying in a loose formation at approximately 4,000 feet. During the flight, the pilots of the leading two aircraft noticed that the third aircraft, a Magni Gyro M16 with registration ZU-CDL, had ceased radio communication on the shared frequency.
Upon backtracking to locate their missing companion, the two pilots discovered the wreckage of the third gyroplane already ablaze on the ground. The aircraft had struck electrical power lines, which were severed during the impact. The pilot of the ZU-CDL was unable to survive the impact and the subsequent fire.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the flight data recorded by the aircraft's turbo control unit (TCU). The analysis of the engine's TCU confirmed that the engine was operating normally and producing power at the time of the accident. Physical evidence from the scene, including damage to the main rotor blades and the severed electrical mast, indicated that the aircraft was flying at a very low altitude—approximately 3 meters above the ground—when it struck the cables.
Investigators also noted that the pilot was wearing a sun visor at the time of the collision, which likely obstructed the view of the low-hanging wires. The investigation established that the impact with the recoiling power lines was so violent that it struck the pilot's head, causing a fatal skull fracture. The intensity of the post-impact fire and the high deceleration forces rendered the accident unsurvivable.
Findings
- The aircraft was structurally sound and the engine was functioning correctly prior to the collision.
- The pilot was flying at an extremely low altitude, which led to the collision with electrical power lines.
- The use of a sun visor during the flight likely contributed to the pilot's failure to detect the hazard.
- The impact with the severed cables caused immediate pilot incapacitation and subsequent ground impact.