What happened
On the morning of 21 December 2010, a Windlass Trike aircraft, registration ZU-AZP, departed from runway 02 at Brits Aerodrome for a private local flight. The pilot was accompanied by one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 170 ft AGL, the aircraft suffered a sudden engine failure.
In response to the loss of power, the pilot initiated a 180-degree left turn to perform a forced landing in an open area adjacent to Runway 20 and the aerodrome hangars. While executing the landing roll, the nose wheel of the aircraft struck a small ditch. The impact caused the nose landing gear to break away, leading the aircraft to roll onto its left side. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries, and the aircraft suffered substantial structural damage to the wings, undercarriage, and airframe.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system to determine the cause of the power loss. Upon inspection of the wreckage, the investigation established that the mogas fuel stored in the fuel tanks and the carburettor fuel bowl was contaminated with muddy water. This contamination was verified when the engine was successfully tested using clean fuel from a different source.
Further investigation into the fuel source revealed that the local fuel station had recently experienced heavy rainfall, with 100 mm of rain recorded just two days prior to the flight. This weather event likely introduced the contaminants into the station's fuel supply.