2025 Robinson R44 Raven II accident at Kromvlei GFA (ZS-RUT)

Overview and Flight Details On 1 February 2025, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-RUT, was involved in an accident at Kromvlei FAGM Helicopter General Flying Area (GFA) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The aircraft was operating under Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 as a private flight. The helicopter departed Rand Airport (FAGM) at approximately 0800Z, carrying one pilot and two passengers, with the intention of landing at Kromvlei GFA and returning to FAGM. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) during the day. ## Accident Sequence The pilot reported conducting a pre-flight inspection with no anomalies noted, and the helicopter's mass and balance calculations were within limits. Upon reaching Kromvlei GFA, the pilot observed another helicopter on the Runway 35 circuit and joined behind it. During the final approach, as the pilot was about to flare the helicopter, he noticed that the main rotor revolutions per minute (RPM) were decreasing. Despite applying excessive left pedal and maximum power, the RPM continued to decrease below 97%. The helicopter subsequently swung 270 degrees to the right, and the pilot lost control, resulting in a hard impact with the ground on the right side of the runway. ## Aircraft and Personnel The Robinson R44 Raven II is a four-seat helicopter powered by a six-cylinder fuel-injected engine rated at 205 brake horsepower. The aircraft had a total of 3,029.3 airframe hours at the time of the accident. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) with a Robinson R44 Raven II type endorsement and a Class 2 aviation medical certificate. The pilot had 30 total hours on the type and 5 days of flying on the type in the past 90 days. The helicopter was maintained by an aircraft maintenance organisation (AMO) and had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration. ## Meteorological Conditions The weather at the time of the flight was a factor in the accident, with a tailwind of 5.6 knots on Runway 35. The meteorological aerodrome report (METAR) issued by the FAGM tower at 0900Z on 1 February 2025 indicated a wind direction of 150 degrees, wind speed of 6 knots, visibility of 10 km, temperature of 30°C, and a density altitude of 8,200 feet. ## Findings and Probable Cause The investigation concluded that the pilot lost control of the helicopter during the flare following a low main rotor RPM, resulting in a hard landing. The probable cause was identified as the pilot's loss of control during the flare due to low main rotor RPM. A contributing factor was poor landing technique. The accident occurred at GPS coordinates 26°21'37.2'S 28°04'49.0'E, at an elevation of 4,991 feet, approximately 8 nautical miles south-east of FAGM.