What happened
During a night navigation exercise on 11 May 2016, a Cessna 172K, registration ZS-PYJ, experienced a total loss of engine power while on short final approach to Runway 35 at Grand Central Airport. The pilot, who was accompanied by a passenger, had been conducting a flight involving several legs, including orbits over Krugersdorp Airport and passes over Rustenburg and Pilanesberg.
As the aircraft was turning onto the final approach, the engine ceased operation. The pilot attempted three unsuccessful restarts before executing a forced landing in an open field near the Kyalami area. The landing surface was uneven and contained several anthills. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck multiple anthills, causing the nose landing gear to collapse. This impact caused the aircraft to flip onto its roof, resulting in significant damage to the engine, propeller cone, wing strut, and vertical stabilizer. Both occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft's fuel levels and flight history. The investigation established that the aircraft was well-maintained and the pilot was properly licensed and medically fit. However, the investigation focused on the discrepancy between the pilot's planned flight duration and the actual fuel consumption.
While the pilot intended to fly for 4.5 hours, the actual flight duration reached approximately 4.6 hours. The investigation found that the pilot had uplifted 37.2 US gallons of fuel, which was insufficient for the planned route given the high power settings used. On-site inspections revealed that less than half a liter of fuel remained in the left tank, confirming that the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot's flight planning was inadequate, as it failed to account for the total time from engine start to landing and did not include the required 0.5-hour fuel reserve.
- The pilot's operational knowledge regarding the aircraft's endurance under specific power settings was insufficient.
- The uneven terrain, specifically the presence of anthills, contributed to the severity of the accident by causing the nose gear to collapse and the aircraft to overturn.