What happened
On the afternoon of 12 January 2025, a private flight involving a pilot and two passengers experienced a serious in-flight emergency in the Limpopo Province. The flight, operating under Part 9 and involving a Robinson R44 Raven I with registration ZS-RMD, had recently refueled at Witklip Farm near Vaalwater.
Shortly after departing the farm, while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 300 feet and traveling at 20 knots, the pilot attempted a turn to the east. During this maneuver, the helicopter experienced a loss of rotor RPM. In response to the power loss, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing on a field at Witklip Farm.
As the aircraft descended, it struck muddy ground with significant force and skidded approximately five meters. During the impact, the left landing gear struck a 30cm tree stump. This impact caused the nose of the helicopter to drop and the tail boom to lift. Because the main rotor was still spinning at high speed, the upward movement of the tail boom caused it to be severed by the rotor blades. The occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft without assistance, and there were no fatalities or injuries.