What happened
On the morning of 29 August 2023, a Micro Wings Cubby, registration ZU-EIB, was performing a private flight between Worcester Aerodrome and Swellendam Aerodrome in the Western Cape. Prior to the return leg of the journey, the aircraft had been at a hangar where an approved person replaced the rudder cables with new stainless steel components.
During the flight from Swellendam back to Worcester, the aircraft entered a spin while flying over the Robertson district. An eyewitness on Ridgemont Farm observed the aircraft descending in a nose-down, tail-high attitude before it struck the ground. The impact triggered a massive fuel-fed fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, who was also the owner of the aircraft, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators from the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the circumstances leading up to the impact. The investigation established that the aircraft was flying under visual meteorological conditions. While the aircraft's flight logs were destroyed in the post-impact fire, records showed the pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and a current medical certificate.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed that the recently replaced rudder cables were still intact and properly connected. The elevator trim was found in the full nose-up position, and no evidence was found to suggest that the structural integrity of the aircraft had been compromised prior to the crash. Additionally, investigators noted that the aircraft's flight folio was not on board at the time of the accident, as it remained at the maintenance facility.
Findings
- The pilot was operating a tandem-seat aircraft from the aft seat, having recently completed a type conversion.
- The aircraft was destroyed by a post-impact fire following an explosion.
- Meteorological data indicated clear skies and good visibility; however, there was evidence of severe low-level turbulence and the potential for hazardous mountain wave turbulence in the vicinity of the accident site.