What happened
On the morning of 4 May 2021, a Jabiru 170 with registration ZU-LEF departed from Hoedspruit Civil Airfield (FAHT) for a training flight under Visual Flight Rules. The flight, involving a pilot and one passenger, was intended to be a familiarisation mission within the Hoedspruit area.
Approximately 54 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 3,000 feet, the aircraft suffered a sudden loss of engine power. The engine revolutions dropped sharply from 2800rpm to 800rpm. Despite the pilot's attempts to restore power by using the fuel pump and adjusting the throttle, the engine failed to maintain the necessary RPM to sustain altitude. Seeking an emergency landing site, the pilot targeted a runway located within the Jejane Private Nature Reserve.
During the approach, the aircraft had to navigate beneath power lines. As the pilot neared the runway threshold, the aircraft encountered metal poles that had been placed to separate an old, disused landing strip from the active one. Due to insufficient altitude, the aircraft struck these poles. The impact caused the tail plane to be torn off and resulted in extensive damage to the right-hand strut, the right wing root, the right elevator, the nose landing gear, and the propeller cone. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent impact. Post-accident bench testing of the engine by the manufacturer revealed no mechanical anomalies. Investigators also reviewed local environmental conditions and the configuration of the landing site. It was noted that the metal poles at the Jejane airstrip were intended to prevent vehicles from driving onto the active runway. Following the incident, the lodge management replaced the poles with a stationary sign.
Findings
- The engine power loss occurred during a period of moderate icing probability, as calculated by the temperature and humidity levels at the time of the flight.
- Carburettor icing is the likely cause of the engine's sudden drop in power.
- The structural damage to the Jabiru 170 was a direct result of the aircraft striking metal barrier poles during the forced landing approach.