What happened
On 9 February 2019, an Aeroprakt A22-LS microlight, registration ZU-INH, was conducting low-level aerial support for ground teams in the Kruger National Park. The pilot was assisting with an anti-poaching operation, searching for tracks in the Kingfisherspruit Section. While flying at approximately 150ft AGL, the pilot noticed a decay in engine RPM and a change in propeller pitch. Despite attempts to adjust the throttle, the engine stopped completely.
Seeking a landing site away from dense vegetation, the pilot identified a more open area to the left and executed a forced landing. During the touchdown, the nose wheel sank into soft soil, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot sustained minor injuries, including head lacerations, but was treated and released from a hospital the same day.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's fuel system. While the engine passed a ground run test with a replacement propeller, investigators identified discrepancies in the fuel plumbing. The aircraft's fuel return line was connected to the airframe fuel filter rather than returning directly to the fuel tank suction side, as specified in the Rotax 912 engine installation manual.
Additionally, the investigation noted that the aircraft lacked a fuel pressure gauge and an electrical auxiliary fuel pump, both of which are recommended by the engine manufacturer to manage fuel flow and monitor system health.