What happened
On the morning of 23 June 2024, a private flight departing from Eva’s Airfield in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, resulted in an aircraft accident. The flight, operated under Part 91 regulations, was intended to proceed to Margate Aerodrome. The crew, consisting of a pilot and one passenger, was operating the Bell Textron B206L-3 Long Ranger III, registration ZS-RUM, under clear visual meteorological conditions.
During the pre-flight phase, the pilot noted other traffic landing on the runway, which diverted his attention while the engine was warming up. As the helicopter lifted off, it moved backward into a blind spot. During this maneuver, the main rotor blades made contact with the branches of a tall tree located near the takeoff area. The impact severed a tip from one of the main rotor blades, creating a severe imbalance in the rotor disk. This loss of stability caused the pilot to lose control, leading to a hard impact on the skid landing gear. The two occupants sustained two serious injuries during the crash.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the departure from Eva’s Airfield. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence with the appropriate type rating and a current medical certificate. The aircraft was found to be airworthy, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent mandatory periodic inspection completed approximately 35 hours prior to the event. The investigation also noted that the weather conditions at the time were favorable and were not a contributing factor to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the main rotor blades striking tree branches during the takeoff sequence.
- The severance of the rotor blade tip caused a significant imbalance in the rotor disk, making controlled flight impossible.
- The resulting hard landing caused substantial structural damage to the Bell Textron B206L-3 Long Ranger III.
- A contributing factor to the event was inadequate situational awareness and a failure to properly assess hazards during the takeoff maneuver.