Microlight Stall Leads to Crash Near Barberton

Casualties unknown • Aylestone Private Reserve, ZA

A Bantam B22J microlight aircraft crashed in Mpumalanga after experiencing a sudden wing drop during circuit training, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot.

What happened

On 25 January 2018, a pilot operating a Bantam B22J microlight, registration ZU-EFY, departed Pyramid Aerodrome near Barberton for intended circuit training. While flying the downwind leg for runway 30 at approximately 400 feet above ground level, the aircraft encountered a sudden gust of wind. This caused the right wing to drop unexpectedly.

Despite the pilot applying full power and opposite aileron to recover, the aircraft entered a stall and impacted the terrain at Aylestone Private Reserve. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down, right-wing-low attitude and slid five meters before coming to rest against a tree. The pilot sustained serious facial injuries due to the shattering of the Plexiglas windscreen. The pilot was treated at a hospital in Nelspruit and discharged the same evening.

The investigation

An investigation by the SACAA AIID established several irregularities regarding the flight and the pilot's medical status. Before takeoff, the pilot had used a plastic bag to cover the fuel tank filler point because the original cap had been lost during refueling. Investigators also discovered an unapproved modification to the elevator trim tab, which had been extended using a cardboard-like material.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the pilot had not declared a medical condition or the use of prescription medication for anxiety during his last medical examination. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not reported the accident to the authority immediately, with the SACAA only becoming aware of the event several days later.

Findings

  • The pilot failed to maintain sufficient flying speed, flying at the stall speed limit of 45 knots rather than the typical cruise speed of 60 knots.
  • There was insufficient altitude available to recover from the in-flight stall.
  • The pilot was flying at 400 feet AGL, which was below the recommended 1,000 feet AGL for an unmanned aerodrome.
  • The pilot utilized runway 30 for circuit work despite prevailing north-easterly winds, which would have made runway 33 more appropriate.
  • The design of the aircraft provides very little warning of an impending stall, and the pilot may not have been monitoring airspeed closely enough.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to an unrecoverable stall at an altitude too low to permit recovery.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2018-01-25 Bantam B22J accident near Aylestone Private Reserve, ZA?

A Bantam B22J microlight aircraft crashed in Mpumalanga after experiencing a sudden wing drop during circuit training, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2018-01-25 involved a Bantam B22J, registration ZU-EFY, at Aylestone Private Reserve, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to an unrecoverable stall at an altitude too low to permit recovery.

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