Incident Overview
On 6 April 2003 at 1500Z, a Robinson R-22 Beta II (registration ZS-RFG) was involved in an incident while conducting a private flight near Farm Georgekraal in the Warden Area. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and his son (1+1 persons on board). No injuries were reported, and no fatalities occurred.
Sequence of Events
The pilot, accompanied by his son, was returning home from a nearby farm on a private flight. En route, they decided to inspect the farm fence and gates. While flying at a height of approximately 60 feet above ground level (AGL), with the pilot looking down towards the fence, a loud noise was heard followed by a shattered windshield. The pilot immediately realized that he had collided with wires and executed an uneventful forced landing on a dirt road.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft sustained damage including a shattered windshield, damage to the main rotor drive shaft exterior paneling, a bent control rod connected to the non-rotating star, a small nick on one tail rotor blade, and cable impact damage visible on both main rotor blades. The majority of the impact was noted on blade serial # 13519A.
Probable Cause
The pilot failed to maintain an adequate lookout while flying at low level and collided with electrical conductors, approximately 400m from his intended landing area.