What happened
On 2 February 2020, a private flight departing from Pietersburg Civil Aerodrome (FAPI) in Limpopo province ended in an emergency forced landing. The aircraft, a Bantam B22J with registration ZU-DJU, took off under visual flight rules for a short local flight.
While climbing to approximately 900 feet above ground level, the aircraft's engine began to lose power. The pilot attempted to restore the engine to its required 2800 rpm, but the power loss persisted, causing the aircraft to lose altitude. To avoid a more dangerous situation, the pilot initiated a forced landing into a bushy area. During the descent, the aircraft struck trees, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Despite the impact, both the pilot and the passenger escaped without any injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft had sufficient fuel for the flight, with approximately 31 litres remaining at the time of the accident. Meteorological data indicated clear visibility and no significant risk of carburetor icing, as the relative humidity was approximately 52%.
Post-accident inspections of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or internal damage prior to the impact. The engine was found to be turning freely during a teardown inspection, and the damage observed was attributed to the force of the impact with the trees and terrain. The aircraft's maintenance records showed it had been properly maintained and was airworthy at the time of departure.