What happened
On 28 November 2009, a Cessna 177, registration ZS-JXD, departed Stellenbosch Aerodrome for a private scenic flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three passengers. During the return leg of the flight, the engine began to run rough, and the pilot observed the fuel gauges indicating empty.
In an attempt to manage the emergency, the pilot diverted to Fisantkraal Aerodrome and activated the emergency transponder code. However, the engine suffered a complete loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing in an open field, but the aircraft struck uneven terrain. The impact caused the nose wheel to collapse and break away, and the right wing tip struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the Cessna 177. While the pilot and two passengers escaped without serious injury, one passenger was treated for a bruised arm by Air Mercy Services personnel.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the fuel management procedures and the equipment on board. The investigation established that the aircraft's engine failed due to fuel exhaustion.
A critical finding was the presence of two different fuel dipsticks, both bearing the registration ZS-JXD. The pilot had used a dipstick that was incorrectly calibrated, which belonged to another aircraft, ZS-NNR. This error led the pilot to believe there was sufficient fuel for the flight duration, whereas the actual fuel on board was significantly less than estimated. Furthermore, the pilot had relied on the dipstick readings rather than verifying the fuel levels through a physical inspection or addressing the discrepancies seen on the cockpit gauges.
Findings
- The engine lost power because the aircraft ran out of fuel.
- The pilot used an incorrectly calibrated dip stick to verify fuel quantities.
- Two different dipsticks with the same registration ZS-JXD were in circulation within the flying club.
- The pilot failed to ensure adequate fuel reserves were available for the flight.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage due to the hard landing on uneven ground.