Accident Details
On 4 April 2022 at approximately 0911Z, a Schweizer (Hughes) 269C helicopter, registration ZT-RDS, was involved in an accident at Rockridge Farm in Parys, Free State Province (Latitude 26°49'32.5" S, Longitude 27°35'29.4" E, Elevation 4721 feet). The flight was conducted under Part 91 (Private) with a single pilot on board. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash, resulting in one fatality and no injuries.
Sequence of Events
According to a witness, the helicopter approached the farm and began descending close to the ground, with the tail swinging left and right. The pilot then lifted off and attempted to land at a different spot, but lifted off again. During this second attempt, the helicopter impacted electrical cables. The main rotor blades struck the power lines, causing the blades to bend downward and sever the tail boom. The pilot lost control of the helicopter, which subsequently crashed.
Probable Cause
The accident investigation determined that the probable cause was the pilot suffering a medical condition during landing that rendered him incapacitated, leading to a loss of control and the subsequent crash.