What happened
On 10 February 2019, a Magni Gyro M 22 gyrocopter, registration ZU-DXL, was involved in a fatal accident near Vaal Marina, Gauteng. The flight, which began at Sunset Shores, was being conducted to scatter the ashes of a passenger's father. Following the ceremony, the pilot performed a low-altitude flypast over a group of spectators.
During the maneuver, the pilot reported a sudden degradation in engine performance and attempted a precautionary landing in an open area near the Vaal Dam. While banking left to align with the landing site, the aircraft'-s rotor blade struck a tree. This impact caused the gyrocopter to become unstable and lose altitude, at which point a rotor blade struck a spectator. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground with enough force to separate the nose gear. While the pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries, the incident resulted in one fatality among the bystanders.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and video evidence of the flight path. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid national pilot license and a current medical certificate. The ZU-DXL gyrocopter was also found to be in compliance with maintenance requirements, having undergone its last periodic inspection approximately 68 hours prior to the accident.
Review of video footage showed the aircraft flying inland over residential areas at an altitude below the treetop. Although the pilot reported engine issues, post-accident inspections of the engine and all aircraft systems revealed no mechanical defects or reasons for the reported performance degradation. The damage to the airframe was attributed to the impact with the ground.
Findings
- The aircraft was operated at an unsafe low height, which led to the collision with the tree.
- The collision with the tree caused the aircraft to become unstable and lose altitude.
- The pilot's flight path was in violation of civil aviation regulations regarding minimum heights over assemblies of persons, specifically flying below the required altitude over an open-air gathering.
- The impact with the tree directly caused the rotor blade to strike a spectator.