What happened
On 03 November 2003, a Robinson R22 helicopter, registration ZS-RMI, was involved in an incident near a farm in the Fort Beaufort district, close to Grahamstown. The aircraft was conducting a ferry flight, carrying a commercial pilot and one passenger, intended for a game capturing site located approximately one nautical mile west of the departure point.
During the preflight phase at approximately 0430Z, the pilot began inspections at the farmstead. The flight plan involved taking off toward the east to utilize the wind. As the helicopter lifted to an altitude of roughly 30 feet above ground level and proceeded east, it struck electrical conductors. These power lines were known to run northwards from the property. Following the impact, the aircraft experienced an upward pitch, but the pilot maintained control and performed a precautionary landing in a nearby field to inspect the aircraft for damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the environmental conditions at the time of the event. Meteorological reports indicated good visibility and scattered cloud cover, with light winds from the east. The aircraft's last Mandatory Periodical Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 10 October 2003, with the helicopter having flown an additional 32.9 hours since that inspection. The operator held a valid Operating Certificate at the time of the occurrence. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the helicopter sustained damage to the forward push-pull rods and the mast fairing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate lookout for obstacles in the flight path.
- Electrical conductors were present and spanned across the intended route of the aircraft.