What happened
On the morning of 15 August 2023, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-RVG, was conducting a flight for the purpose of a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) renewal. The flight, operated under Part 141 training regulations, departed from Rand Airport (FAGM) in Gauteng Province. The crew, consisting of a Designated Flight Examiner and a pilot, was performing maneuvers in a general flying area approximately 7.8nm southwest of Rand Airport.
While performing an emergency simulation involving limited cyclic control, the aircraft descended to 9 feet above the ground. During the attempt to recover from this maneuver, the helicopter encountered a strong crosswind from the left. As the pilot increased throttle to initiate a climb, the aircraft's skid gears made contact with the terrain. The helicopter skidded for roughly 150 meters before the right skid struck an anthill, triggering a dynamic rollover that left the aircraft resting on its left side. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe, tail boom, and both main and tail rotor blades.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the emergency simulation and the environmental conditions at the time of the impact. Investigators examined the flight profiles, the mechanical state of the aircraft, and the regulatory status of the crew. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's annual inspection and airworthiness certificates were valid at the time of the occurrence.
Regarding the crew, the investigation noted that while the examiner held a valid medical certificate, the student pilot's CPL had lapsed for over a year at the time of the flight, though a renewal was processed shortly after the accident. The investigation also analyzed the wind conditions, noting a crosswind of 12.6 knots, which was just below the maximum allowable crosswind limit of 17 knots for this aircraft type.