What happened
On February 19, 2002, at approximately 10:40Z, an AS 350 B2 helicopter, registration ZS-HVC, was performing a commercial operation in the Beestekraal area. The flight was initiated following a request from a game farm owner to transport a member of the South African Police Services to the property following a burglary and vehicle theft.
While attempting to land in a confined area on the farm, the down-wash from the helicopter's main rotor disturbed a significant amount of fine red dust. This dust cloud temporarily obscured the pilot's vision. During this period of reduced visibility, the aircraft drifted forward further than the pilot had intended, resulting in the main rotor blades striking a tree located on the right side of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the environmental conditions at the site. Investigators examined the impact of the rotor down-wash on the local terrain and the resulting visibility issues. The inspection of the aircraft confirmed that the impact was limited to the tips of the main rotor blades and the outer 30cm of the lower blade surface area. There were no injuries to the three occupants on board.