Overview
On 30 October 2003 at 0650Z, a private Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registration ZS-RLC, was involved in an incident while attempting to land at the Starlite Helicopters helipad at FAVG (Virginia Aerodrome). The helicopter was occupied by the pilot only; no injuries occurred.
Weather
Fine weather conditions prevailed at the time of the incident.
Sequence of Events
A helicopter, ZS-REW, was parked on the taxiway. ZS-RLC was approaching along Runway 05 for the Starlite helipad with the intention to execute a full stop landing. The pilot observed ZS-REW parked on the taxiway and another helicopter, a Puma, preparing for take-off approximately 25.7 metres ahead of ZS-REW. The pilot of ZS-RLC then chose to air taxi between the Puma and ZS-REW, believing there was ample room to continue to the helipad. During a right-hand turn into wind, the tail rotor blades of ZS-RLC struck one of the stationary main rotor blades of the parked helicopter ZS-REW. The pilot realised that he had struck something and heard a rumbling noise, but managed to execute an uneventful landing, in which nobody was injured.
Probable Cause
During an attempt to land on a designated helipad, the pilot misjudged his proximity to another parked helicopter and in the process allowed the tail rotor of his aircraft to make contact with one of the stationary main rotor blades of the parked aircraft.