What happened
On the afternoon of 16 September 2024, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registration ZS-RWU, was performing aerial work near Sterkfontein Farm, close to Petrusburg in the Free State province. The flight was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions as part of a game capture operation, specifically focused on herding ostriches into a boma.
While the pilot was maneuvering the aircraft to prevent the animals from escaping the enclosure, the front left section of the helicopter's skid gear made contact with the upper cable of the boma, which was positioned approximately 3 meters above the ground. The pilot did not immediately realize the entanglement had occurred. As the pilot increased collective pitch to apply more power, the snagged cable caused the aircraft to roll onto its right side. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, though there were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the flight, which was being operated under the provisions of Part 128 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and a Class 1 medical certificate. The aircraft was found to have been properly maintained, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent maintenance inspection completed earlier that year.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the left front skid gear hooking the upper boma cable during low-level maneuvering.
- The roll to the right was triggered when the pilot increased power, tensioning the entanglement.
- A loss of situational awareness contributed to the event, as the pilot's attention was focused on monitoring the movement of the ostriches rather than the immediate proximity of the boma structure.