What happened
On the morning of 13 April 2023, a Schweier 269C helicopter, registration ZT-RWJ, was engaged in a game capture operation at Zoutpan Farm in the Baltimore District of Limpopo. The flight, conducted under visual meteorological conditions, departed from the farm at approximately 0845Z with the intention of returning to the same location.
While flying at an altitude of roughly 60 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced a noticeable reduction in engine power while maneuvering to position the aircraft for the operation. As the pilot attempted to locate a suitable landing site, the engine ceased operation entirely. Following established emergency protocols, the pilot executed a zero-speed vertical autorotation. The resulting hard landing caused the aircraft's skid gear to collapse and the tail rotor drive assembly to separate from the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the power loss. A follow-up inspection of the helicopter was conducted after it was recovered to a maintenance facility. During this inspection, investigators found no evidence of contamination in the fuel, and the gascolator filter was clean. Furthermore, the engine, fuel, induction, and electrical systems showed no signs of malfunction or damage.
To verify the engine's condition, a ground run was performed. The engine started easily and operated normally under varying RPM settings, with oil temperature and pressure remaining within appropriate limits. Notably, the investigation could not find any physical evidence to support the pilot's account that the engine had stopped during flight.