What happened
On 27 March 2011, a private flight departing from F A Schoeman microlight aerodrome near Tzane and heading toward Hoedspruit civil aerodrome ended in an accident. The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, was operating a Bantam B22J when the aircraft experienced an engine power loss at approximately 30 feet above the ground.
As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, the pilot attempted to maintain airspeed by lowering the nose. However, the aircraft lost sufficient altitude and collided with trees located in a valley at the edge of the runway. While the Bantam B22J sustained substantial damage, neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained any injuries.
The investigation
An investigation into the occurrence examined the aircraft's maintenance, the environmental conditions, and the pilot's takeoff procedures. The Bantam B22J, registration ZU-EFB, was found to be properly maintained, with its last annual inspection completed shortly before the accident. The takeoff weight of 418 kg was within the manufacturer's limits, though it was noted to be close to the maximum allowable mass.
Investigators analyzed the takeoff conditions at the unlicensed aerodrome, which featured a gravel runway with patches of grass and an upward slope. The investigation also considered the meteorological data, noting a temperature of 30°C and a calculated density altitude of 4,700 ft. The pilot had elected to use a specific runway to avoid electrical wires, which resulted in a takeoff with a tailwind component.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the unsuccessful forced landing. The investigation established that no proper performance planning was carried out prior to the flight. Specifically, the pilot did not calculate the density altitude or formally assess the impact of the tailwind and the runway's upslope on the aircraft's performance.
Additional contributing factors included:
- The use of a runway with an upslope and a rough, grass-covered surface.
- The lack of assessment regarding the high density altitude.
- Poor flight technique during the critical takeoff phase.