What happened
On 4 December 2013, an R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-RNT, was conducting a private culling operation near Brown’s Farm in the Eastern Cape. The flight, which included the pilot and two passengers, was focused on tracking jackals.
During the operation, the pilot successfully lined up the aircraft for a shot and signaled the hunter to proceed. The initial shot missed, causing the target animal to change direction abruptly. In an attempt to maintain visual contact, the pilot initiated a descent and a steep left turn. During this maneuver, the hunter discharged a second shotgun round without receiving the necessary clearance from the pilot. The resulting shotgun pellets struck one of the aircraft's main rotor blades.
Despite the impact, the pilot maintained control of the R44 Raven II and performed an immediate emergency landing. The occupants evacuated the aircraft safely, and there were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft was airworthy and maintained in accordance with all regulations at the time of the incident. The pilot was found to be appropriately licensed, rated, and experienced for the specific requirements of culling operations.
Investigators confirmed that the weather conditions were clear with no contributing environmental factors. The investigation focused on the sequence of events involving the hunter's actions and the communication breakdown between the crew and the person on the ground.