What happened
On 28 March 2013, a Piper PA-28-140 aircraft, registration ZS-FGO, was conducting a private flight near the Eagle Flight Academy at Hartswater Airstrip. The flight, which included a pilot and a passenger, was performing circuit patterns when the pilot initiated a sequence of maneuvers for a touch-and-go landing. As the pilot reduced power, applied carburetor heat, and extended the flaps to the second notch, the engine revolutions per minute (RPM) and airspeed began to decline.
In an attempt to maintain engine performance, the pilot advanced the throttle, but the power loss persisted. Believing the aircraft was experiencing engine failure, the pilot executed a forced landing on a gravel farm road south of the academy. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a wire fence and a wooden pole, which impacted the left wing leading edge. The impact was severe enough to sever the left wing and rupture the fuel tank, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. No injuries were sustained by the occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components to identify the source of the power loss. The engine, a Lycoming 0-320E2A, was removed from the site and subjected to testing at an approved maintenance facility and a specialized engine shop. The investigation also included an analysis of fuel samples taken from the aircraft's tanks.
Findings
- The pilot was properly licensed, medically fit, and adequately rested for the flight.
- The aircraft was maintained according to approved procedures and held a valid certificate of airworthiness.
- Fuel samples showed no anomalies.
- Testing confirmed that the engine and its accessories were capable of operating at full power, with no mechanical defects or malfunctions detected.
- The undetermined loss of power was the primary contributing factor, as no structural or mechanical cause for the RPM decay could be established.