Summary
On 10 March 2022, a Schweizer 269C helicopter (registration ZS-HED) was destroyed during a game capture operation at Paul Roux Game Farm in the Free State Province, South Africa. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The accident occurred under visual meteorological conditions.
The Accident
The pilot reported performing a pre-flight inspection with no abnormalities found. The helicopter had approximately 70 liters of Avgas 100LL fuel. After start-up and normal engine indications, the helicopter lifted off and routed toward blesboks at 15 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot attempted to drive the antelopes toward a boma but struggled with some animals that ran in the opposite direction. While flying approximately one foot above ground level toward the boma, the pilot felt a bump from the tail section. He raised the collective pitch lever to climb, but the helicopter entered an unrecoverable spin and impacted the ground hard in an open field. The pilot switched off the master switch before exiting unassisted. The helicopter was destroyed; there was no pre- or post-impact fire. The flight duration was about 30 minutes.
Wreckage Examination
Post-accident examination revealed that the cockpit, including the instrument panel, was destroyed. The collective pitch lever was found in the full-up position with the twist grip at maximum power. Fuel tanks were intact with no leaks. The cyclic control stick remained intact; anti-torque pedals showed distortion consistent with ground impact. Main rotor blade evidence indicated substantial engine power at impact. The transmission drive clutch was engaged, and drive belts were intact. The tail rotor driveshaft failed in torsional overload. The tail rotor assembly separated from the tail cone; one blade remained attached to the hub. No flight control system defects were found. A dead antelope with a large head wound was discovered nearby, along with the missing tail rotor blade, showing signs of a tail rotor strike.
Pilot and Maintenance
The pilot, a 30-year-old male, held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter) and a game rating. He had 2,572.50 total flying hours, with 700 hours on the Schweizer 269C. His Class 1 medical certificate, issued 15 February 2022, had no restrictions. Maintenance records showed no abnormalities; the last mandatory periodic inspection was on 18 February 2022 at 1,646.8 hours, and all applicable service bulletins and airworthiness directives were complied with. The helicopter was not listed on any air operating certificate; the operation was conducted on a private capacity.
Probable Cause
The helicopter’s tail rotor impacted an antelope while flying close to the ground during a game capture operation; the helicopter spun out of control, rendering ground impact inevitable.