What happened
On 6 April 2003, a Robinson R-22 Beta II, registration ZS-RFG, was conducting a private flight near the Warden Area. The pilot, accompanied by his son, was traveling from Farm Grootvlei toward Farm Georgekraal. During the flight, the crew decided to fly at a low altitude of roughly 60 feet above ground level to inspect farm gates and fencing.
While the pilot was looking downward toward the fence line, a loud noise occurred, followed by the shattering of the aircraft's windshield. The pilot quickly identified that the helicopter had struck wires. He managed to execute a controlled, uneventful forced landing on a nearby dirt road. There were no fatalities and no injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft for structural damage and mechanical failure. Beyond the broken windshield, the impact caused damage to the exterior paneling of the main rotor drive shaft. Upon further inspection of the internal components, a control rod connected to the non-rotating star was found to be bent. The tail rotor blade sustained a small nick, and both main rotor blades showed evidence of cable impact, with the most significant damage found on blade serial # 13519A.
Maintenance records indicated that the most recent Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 14 February 2003, at 204.6 airframe hours. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had flown an additional 14.6 hours since that inspection. The pilot held a valid private pilot's license and was properly endorsed for the aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate lookout while operating at a low altitude.
- The collision with electrical conductors occurred approximately 400 meters from the intended landing site.
- The pilot's attention was diverted toward the ground features (fences and gates) during the low-level flight.