Helicopter Wire Strike During Agricultural Spraying in South Africa (ZS-ROM)

Incident Overview and Location On 29 December 2025, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-ROM, was conducting an agricultural spraying operation at Spitsbak Citrus Farm near Hankey in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The flight was intended to return to the same farm after spraying. The accident occurred at GPS coordinates 33°53'54.21'' S, 024°55'12.38'' E, at an elevation of 82 feet. The helicopter was operating under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and in accordance with Part 127 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011, as amended. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot, a 50-year-old male, sustained minor injuries including lacerations and bruises. There were no fatalities. ## Operational Context and Sequence of Events The pilot was on his seventh spray load of the morning, flying at approximately 30 feet above ground level (AGL). The orchard's orange trees were covered with white netting elevated about 26 feet AGL. The helicopter impacted three 10-kilovolt (kV) electrical conductors on its windshield side. Two cables were severed, while the third was thrown upward and entangled around the main rotor mast's lower section, jamming the two front-positioned control rods connected to the lower swash plate assembly. The pilot reported retaining some control initially but lost cyclic control due to the jammed rods, causing the helicopter to roll right. The aircraft pierced through the netting in a nose-down attitude and came to rest on its right side. The pilot, seated on the right side and wearing a helmet, avoided head injuries but sustained lacerations from broken Plexiglass. Farm personnel responded quickly, and the pilot was transported to a medical facility. The helicopter and spray booms were substantially damaged, and third-party damage occurred to the netting and some orange trees. ## Contributing Factors and Findings The pilot stated he was aware of the wires from previous flights but found them difficult to see due to the white netting, early morning light, and sloping terrain. The flight was conducted low over the netted area to allow the spray solution to drip through the netting onto the trees. The pilot was flying with the right front door removed to monitor the spray reservoir level on the right skid. The approved operations manual did not include specific procedures for spraying netted orchards, and the standard operating procedures document was generic, lacking detailed guidance on hazards associated with netted crops. The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and Class 1 aviation medical certificate, with a restriction for corrective lenses. The helicopter was airworthy, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Release to Service. The operator held a valid Air Operator Certificate and Air Service Licence, authorizing agricultural spraying operations. Weather conditions were fine and had no bearing on the accident.