What happened
On the morning of 29 April 2012, a Rally 105 aircraft, registration ZU-DZJ, departed from a private aerodrome in the Camperdown district for Margate Aerodrome (FAMG). After a brief stay at the aerodrome for a meeting, the pilot and a passenger prepared for their return flight.
During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the pilot broadcast an urgent "MAYDAY engine dead" message over the radio. Following this transmission, the aircraft departed the runway surface, striking the asphalt apron with a left-wing-low attitude. The aircraft then careered through the aerodrome's perimeter fence and tumbled down a rocky embankment. A nearby helicopter pilot confirmed the presence of a crash and an active fire. While aerodrome rescue and fire fighting personnel arrived quickly to combat the flames, the impact and subsequent fire resulted in two fatalities, claiming the lives of both the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components of the Rally 105. The investigation noted that the post-impact fire was so intense that it consumed much of the aircraft's composite structure, making it impossible to inspect the cockpit or determine the exact position of the fuel valves.
Engine teardown inspections were conducted to identify any mechanical failures. Investigators found that the throttle was in a nearly closed position and the choke was partially applied. While the engine showed no signs of pre- or post-impact mechanical failure, the investigators could not definitively rule out whether the fuel valves—which regulate flow from the wing tanks to the 3-litre recovery tank—were correctly positioned during takeoff. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot's logbook lacked documented flying hours between his recent type conversion and the date of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful forced landing following an engine stoppage shortly after takeoff.
- The specific reason for the engine stoppage could not be determined with certainty.
- The aircraft's impact with the perimeter fence and the subsequent tumble down the embankment left the pilot with no remaining control.
- A light tailwind component from the south may have contributed to a higher-than-anticipated touchdown speed and a landing point further down the runway than intended.