FUEL PUMP F-UP

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT

- JIM DAVIS

This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability.

CAA's report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively.

• Aircraft registration: ZS-FPJ
• Date and time of accident: 19 June 2015, 1602Z
• Type of aircraft: Cessna C210J
• Type of operation: Part 91
• PIC license type: Commercial License valid: Yes
• PIC age: 38
• PIC total hours: 6400
• PIC hours on type: 149
• Last point of departure: Piesangshoek (FAQB)
• Next intended landing: Nelspruit (FANS)
• Location of accident site: Field near FAQB
• Meteorological information: 090/15km/hr. Viz 10km.
• Temp: +18C POB: 1+0
• People injured: 1
• People killed: 0  

History of flight:

The engine started without difficulty and the pilot waited until all the engine instruments were normal before taxiing in an easterly direction for a westerly departure. He carried out his takeoff checks. At 1900 RPM and he noted that both magneto drops were 50 RPM.

The pilot selected 10° of flaps and took power. The aircraft accelerated downhill towards the west with a 15km/hr tailwind. The pilot reported that during the climb, at about 100 ft AGL he noticed a gradual loss of power and the aircraft was unable to gain altitude. The RPM surged between 2 500 and 2 200.

The pilot stated his eyes were outside the cockpit and he did not consider looking inside, to operate the electric fuel booster pump as the aircraft was drifting towards the treetops. (Jim's note: but he was able to notice how much the revs were surging.) 

During a turn to the right, he lost control. The right-wing dropped and the aircraft entered a near-vertical descent, colliding with tree stumps on an uphill slope before impacting the ground.