What happened
On the morning of 24 October 2020, a Bushbaby aircraft, registration ZU-EPK, was involved in a fatal accident at Eva’s Field in KwaZulu-Natal. The flight, a private operation, was intended to ferry the aircraft from Light Flight Airstrip to Eva’s Field for a scheduled 100-hour annual inspection. Following the completion of the inspection, the pilot and a passenger prepared for a return flight.
During the pre-flight phase, the pilot noted a rough engine start, prompting a brief maintenance action where the spark plugs were cleaned and regapped. After the engine resumed smooth operation, the aircraft taxied toward Runway 18. Due to maintenance work being performed on the runway perimeter fence, the pilot initiated the takeoff from approximately three meters short of the runway threshold. Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft entered a steep left turn. An eyewitness observed the engine misfiring, followed by a sudden wing drop. The aircraft entered a descending teardrop turn and was unable to recover, eventually impacting an embankment in a nearby valley. The accident resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and reviewed security footage provided by the airfield owner. The footage confirmed that the aircraft performed a sharp bank and subsequently lost altitude in an unrecoverable descent. Post-accident analysis of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the fuel filter was dry, indicating an empty system.
Records from the flight folio indicated that the aircraft had been refueled with 170 litres of Mogas. However, based on the aircraft's known fuel consumption rate of 17 litres per hour, a safe return flight to the original departure point would have required approximately 294 litres. This discrepancy highlighted a significant deficit in available fuel. Additionally, investigators noted that while the spark plugs were inspected, they were found to be in normal working order, ruling them out as a primary cause of the engine failure.
Findings
- The engine ceased operation due to fuel exhaustion following the initial climb.
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft after executing a sharp left turn.
- The pilot was unable to recover the aircraft from the bank, leading to the impact.
- Fuel mismanagement contributed to the lack of sufficient reserves for the return leg.
- Maintenance work on the runway fence prevented the use of the full runway length.