Van's RV-8 Incident at Mossel Bay Aerodrome (ZU-FHM)

Incident Overview and Flight History On 22 November 2013, a Van's RV-8, registration ZU-FHM, was involved in an incident at Mossel Bay Aerodrome (FAMO) in the Western Cape Province. The aircraft, operated privately by Cygnet Capital CC, departed Morningstar Aerodrome near Cape Town at approximately 1015Z for a visual flight rules cross-country flight. The pilot, a 57-year-old male with a private licence and 612.7 total hours, was accompanied by one passenger. The aircraft joined overhead FAMO at 2,500 ft at 1115Z. The pilot assessed the wind as from the west and elected to land on Runway 27, joining the left-hand circuit. During the descent, the pilot observed a Bell 212 helicopter (ZS-HHS) hovering to the north of the runway and broadcast on the aerodrome frequency 124.20 MHz that he had visual contact with the helicopter traffic. The pilot configured the aircraft for landing with 40° of flaps selected at an approach speed of 80 kt indicated airspeed. The helicopter was observed crossing the runway to the south while slinging a bambi bucket approximately 100 ft off the ground. The pilot broadcast his intentions for a short final approach, and the helicopter pilot responded that they would be out of the way. The pilot continued the approach, touching down just past the windsock while maintaining a 'wheeler' attitude for visibility. The helicopter had cleared the runway and was manoeuvring into a hover near a parallel taxiway, with the bambi bucket still approximately 100 ft off the ground and the helicopter between 200 and 300 ft off the ground. While taxiing along the runway to vacate at the taxiway, the aircraft was struck by the helicopter's downwash. The turbulence caused the aircraft to yaw from side to side and the tail to lift. The pilot pulled back on the control stick to lower the tail, but the aircraft did not respond. The tail continued to lift, causing the aircraft to nose forward onto the runway surface. The propeller, spinner, and wheel spats impacted the runway, and the aircraft came to rest in a nose-down attitude. The pilot declared a Mayday and secured the aircraft. Both occupants disembarked unassisted and pushed the aircraft to the side of the runway. The helicopter pilot stated in a subsequent statement that he had advised the ZU-FHM pilot about the downwash, but the pilot had continued with the approach and landing. The distance between the runway and the taxiway was approximately 48 m (157 ft).