What happened
On the afternoon of 13 November 2021, a student pilot operating a Robinson 22 helicopter, registration ZS-REH, was conducting solo training exercises in the KwaZulu-Natal province. After completing an initial training session with an instructor at Virginia Aerodrome, the student pilot departed for the general flying area near Inanda Dam to perform solo circuit training.
Upon reaching the flat top of Maphephe．hetha Mountain, the pilot landed on an open area of terrain. While attempting to lift off from a hover, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control. Video footage captured by an action camera worn by the pilot revealed that as the helicopter increased power, it began to yaw to the right with a nose-up pitch. The pilot attempted an abrupt left cyclic correction, but the aircraft swung violently, eventually completing a full 360-degree roll to the right before coming to rest upright. The pilot escaped the substantial damage to the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators analyzed the wreckage and reviewed footage from the pilot's chest-mounted camera. The investigation confirmed that meteorological conditions were favorable, with clear visibility and no significant wind interference. The aircraft's maintenance records showed the helicopter was within its airworthiness and inspection intervals. However, the investigation also identified administrative discrepancies in the student's training records, noting that several training progress sheets and summary hours were incompletely documented or lacked required signatures from the Chief Flight Instructor.
Findings
- The terrain at the accident site consisted of soft and sloping soil.
- The aircraft's right skid likely became embedded in the soft ground during the transition to a hover.
- The pilot utilized an incorrect technique during the lift-off maneuver.
- The aircraft underwent a dynamic roll-over sequence involving a full 360-degree rotation.