What happened
On 9 August 2012, a private flight departing from Saldanha Airfield experienced a critical engine failure approximately 90 minutes into the journey. The pilot of the Windlass Trike, registration ZU-BS/BSH, attempted to find a suitable landing site but was forced to execute an emergency landing within the sand dunes of the Yzerfontein Nature Reserve. During the impact, the aircraft's landing gear collapsed and the wing flipped over. While the passenger escaped without injury, the pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the mechanical, regulatory, and operational circumstances surrounding the crash. Investigators found that the aircraft's engine had been running roughly prior to the failure. Although the pilot reported having sufficient fuel for the flight, the investigation noted that the engine failure likely resulted from fuel starvation, potentially caused by water contamination or a blocked fuel filter.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed significant regulatory discrepancies. The aircraft was being operated without a valid Authority to Fly following a change in ownership. Additionally, the pilot was flying with an expired national pilot's license, and the aircraft's maintenance records were severely outdated, with the last recorded annual inspection dating back to July 2009. There was also evidence that the aircraft had been involved in a previous, unreported accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful forced landing necessitated by engine failure.
- The pilot was operating with an expired license and lacked a proper understanding of aviation regulations.
- The aircraft lacked a valid Authority to Fly and had not undergone a documented annual inspection for over three years.
- Maintenance practices were inadequate, as the pilot performed his own maintenance without documented evidence of qualified personnel or updated logbooks.
- There was a lack of effective regulatory oversight by the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with safety and registration procedures.