What happened
On 26 November 2024, a Robinson R44 Raven II, registration ZS-RZK, was conducting a private game culling operation in the Free State Province. During the flight from Mequatling Farm, a passenger became nauseated and requested an immediate landing. The pilot executed an emergency landing in a small clearing characterized by tall grass.
Following the landing, the pilot kept the engine running while the passenger disembarked to distance themselves from the rotating blades. Shortly after, the passenger noticed smoke emerging from the rear of the aircraft near the exhaust. Although the pilot attempted to shut down the engine and both occupants tried to suppress the flames using a fire extinguisher, bottled water, and clothing, the fire quickly spread. The intense heat ignited the surrounding vegetation, and the fire ultimately destroyed the aircraft. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the circumstances of the landing. While the helicopter's maintenance records and airworthiness certificates were found to be in order, the investigation focused on the exhaust system. Although the aircraft was originally manufactured with a muffler and tailpipe shield, the investigation noted that the lack of these components in certain serial number ranges had previously led to similar accidents, prompting the issuance of Service Bulletin-46.
Findings
- The pilot was properly licensed and the aircraft was airworthy at the time of the incident.
- The primary cause of the fire was the hot exhaust system igniting the tall grass upon landing.
- The pilot failed to adhere to the manufacturer's safety instructions, specifically Safety Tip 15 and Safety Notice SN-17, which strictly prohibit landing in tall, dry grass due to the high risk of ignition from the engine exhaust.
Safety action
- Operators are encouraged to strictly follow manufacturer safety tips and standard operating procedures.
- It is recommended that operators include motion sickness bags in passenger briefings to mitigate the need for unplanned emergency landings.