Accident Micro Aviation Bantam B22J ZU-FFB, Thursday 23 May 2019

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Date:	Thursday 23 May 2019
Time:	09:22
Type:	Micro Aviation Bantam B22J
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	ZU-FFB
MSN:	09-0334
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Hans Merensky Golf Course, Phalaborwa - South Africa
Phase:	Unknown
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Phalaborwa Aerodrome (FAPH)
Destination airport:	Skukuza Aerodrome (FASZ)
Investigating agency:	CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
The pilot being the sole occupant on-board the microlight aircraft took off from Phalaborwa Aerodrome (FAPH) for an intended flight to Skukuza Aerodrome (FASZ). Approximately six minutes after take-off while flying at a height of about 1 500 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine started running rough and the pilot decided to turn back to FAPH.
The engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM) then started to decay and, a short while later, the engine stopped. The pilot performed a forced landing on the 18th fairway of a nearby golf course. The aircraft touched down hard.
The pilot did not sustain any injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage during the accident sequence.

The investigation revealed that the aircraft experienced an unsuccessful forced landing following an engine failure in-flight which was attributed to a mechanical failure

Accident investigation: