What happened
On 2 May 2005, a Robinson R44 Raven II, registration ZS-RWW, was conducting a commercial charter flight along the coast. After dropping passengers at the Wild Coast Sun Hotel/Golf Resort, the pilot proceeded toward Margate Aerodrome for refueling. While cruising at roughly 500 feet above ground level and approximately 200 meters from the shoreline, the pilot observed a moving orange or yellow object in the periphery of his vision. Though the pilot initially suspected a bird or wind-blown debris due to the stiff southerly breeze, the object quickly disappeared from view.
Upon inspecting the flight controls, the pilot found no immediate signs of a collision. The flight to Margate Aerodrome proceeded without further issue. However, during a post-flight inspection following refueling, the pilot discovered a significant amount of fishing line wrapped around the tail rotor hub assembly and the 90° tail rotor gearbox shaft.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the entanglement. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating in close proximity to the beach during the period when the object was sighted. Following the discovery of the line, the pilot consulted with a maintenance engineer. The engineer determined that there was no visible structural damage and that the functionality of the tail rotor remained unaffected. To ensure safety, the pilot performed several low-altitude hover turns to verify tail rotor authority before returning the passengers to their destination.
Findings
- The investigation determined that the helicopter collided with a kite that had been launched from the beach.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries resulting from the encounter.
- The presence of the fishing line on the tail rotor assembly was the primary physical finding.