What happened
On 08 January 2015, a Bantam B2 2J microlight, registration ZU-WCC, departed Hoedspruit Civil (FAHT) for a scenic flight through the surrounding game reserves. The flight, operated under visual flight rules, included a pilot and one passenger. Throughout the flight, the pilot maintained regular radio contact with Air Force Base Hoedspruit air traffic controllers, providing position updates as the aircraft traversed the area.
At approximately 0736Z, the pilot issued a MAYDAY call, reporting an engine failure and stating an intention to perform a forced landing approximately 2 nautical miles north of the airfield. Following this emergency declaration, communication with the aircraft was lost. A search and rescue operation involving several aircraft was launched. Roughly 45 minutes later, the wreckage was located approximately 1 nautical mile northeast of the aerodrome. The aircraft was found in a nosedive attitude, having struck treetops before impacting the ground. The impact was severe, and both occupants were fatally injured.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the engine, a Jabiru 2200A. A teardown inspection of the engine revealed that the number 2 cylinder had seized. The investigation focused on the engine's maintenance history and configuration. While the aircraft had a valid authority to fly and had undergone recent annual inspections, investigators discovered that several critical Service Bulletins (JSB 018-1, JSB 018-2, and JSB 018-3) issued by the engine manufacturer had not been implemented by the maintenance organisations responsible for the aircraft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful forced landing following an engine failure.
- The engine was running in a lean condition due to incorrect carburetor settings. The needle jets were significantly smaller than the manufacturer's recommended specifications, which led to excessive heating in the number 2 cylinder.
- The pilot was unable to locate a suitable landing site during the glide, leading to an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent nose-first impact.
- Maintenance records indicated that essential manufacturer service bulletins regarding carburetor tuning had been neglected.
Safety action
It is recommended that the regulator verify compliance with all applicable engine Service Bulletins for aircraft of this type to ensure proper maintenance of critical engine components.