Accident Piper PA-28-140 ZS-FMZ,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 273282
 
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Date:Tuesday 1 June 2004
Time:
Type:Silhouette image of generic P28A model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-28-140
Owner/operator:
Registration: ZS-FMZ
MSN: 28-24055
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Approximately 1 nm west of FAGM on open field -   South Africa
Phase:
Nature:
Departure airport:Rand Airport Aerodrome, (FAGM)
Destination airport:Rand Airport Aerodrome, (FAGM)
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The student pilot took off from Rand Airport (Runway 17) for a cross country flight. According to the pilot, everything appeared normal and the aircraft was climbing at an indicated airspeed of 70mph. Shortly thereafter the aircraft suddenly experienced a loss in climb performance followed by a gradual loss of engine rpm. He turned in a South Westerly direction with the aircraft still unable to climb. He then broadcast a may day call to Rand Airport tower on the frequency of 118.7 MHz and requested landing on Runway 11. While turning towards Runway 11, the engine rpm continued to decay even further. He was half way through the base leg and the aircraft began to shake violently and the engine stopped. He immediately looked for a suitable landing area and opted for an open field situated to the west of the aerodrome. Due to the rocky type terrain, the student pilot pulled back on the control column in order to clear obstacles but the aircraft's undercarriage could not clear the obstacles and was destroyed on impact with the ground. The aircraft skidded on its belly, leaving a long trail of undercarriage debris and both fuel tanks were ruptured in the process before coming to a halt. The pilot sustained no injuries. The Certificate Of Airworthiness had expired at the time of the accident. The last Mandatory Periodic Inspection was certified on 23 April 2004 at 4237.96 Tachometre hours, and the aircraft had accumulated a further 81.83 tachometer hours since the last MPI. An engine investigation was carried out and this revealed a conrod failure in the No. 4 cylinder with signatures of overheating. PROBABLE CAUSE: Engine failure as a result of No:4 cylinder conrod failure due to lack of lubrication which resulted in the pilot executing a forced landing on an open field.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

S.A. CAA

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
4 February 2004 ZS-FMZ 0 Off Runway 35 at Rand Aerodrome sub

Revision history:

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