What happened
On 16 March 2017, a PAPA 51 Thunder Mustang, registration ZU-TMG, departed from Stellenbosch Aerodrome for a private flight. The flight plan involved traveling to Betty’s Bay before returning to Stellenbosch. The flight proceeded normally until the aircraft was flying north at approximately 400 feet AGL near Kogel Bay.
During this phase of flight, the pilot noticed an audible change in the engine's sound. Upon checking the cockpit instruments, the pilot observed that the oil pressure had dropped to 15 psi and was continuing to decline. Within eight seconds of this observation, the engine seized. In response to the failure, the pilot initiated a climb and a right-hand turn. After completing a 180-degree maneuver, the pilot decided to perform a forced landing on the beach. Because the landing gear was not extended, the aircraft struck the sand on its belly and skidded to a halt. The impact resulted in two injuries, though there were no fatalities.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the flight history of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, which had only 55 total airframe hours, had undergone its last annual inspection roughly 14 hours prior to the accident. The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the engine and the sequence of events leading to the landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was a ruptured oil line.
- This rupture led to a total loss of oil, which subsequently caused the engine to seize due to a lack of lubrication.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller, engine cowls, lower wing, and the bottom air intake scoop.