What happened
On 7 July 2011, an Auto Gyro MT-03 gyrocopter, registration ZU-EHC, departed from New Tempe aerodrome in the Free State province for a private flight. The aircraft was bound for a private farm located near Petrusburg. The flight was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions with clear skies and light winds.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 250 to 300 feet, the pilot perceived a loss of engine power based on the changing sound of the engine. Without checking the engine instruments to confirm the status of the power plant, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing on a nearby gravel road. During this maneuver, the pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to veer off the road and roll onto its left side. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the circumstances leading to the loss of control. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed that the last annual inspection had been completed earlier that year in March.
Technical analysis of the engine's turbine control unit (TCU) was performed. The data download from the TCU indicated that the turbo system and the engine had been operating normally. Furthermore, subsequent inspections of the engine by an approved person found no abnormalities, and the engine was able to operate normally across various power settings during testing.