History of Flight
On Thursday morning, 25 December 2014, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registered ZS-MEX, departed from O.R. Tambo International Airport (FAOR) on a charter flight to Lebala Game Lodge in Limpopo province. The flight was uneventful, and both the pilot and passenger disembarked. The pilot later returned to the helipad to prepare for a repositioning flight to Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC).
After a normal pre-flight inspection and engine start, the pilot lifted off to a height of about two metres above ground level (AGL) while hovering for departure. During this process, the right-hand side door (pilot door) opened. The pilot attempted to close it with his right hand, and in doing so, the helicopter's nose pitched up, yawed left, and drifted right. The helicopter sustained a tail strike. The pilot then increased power and climbed to approximately 50 feet, where he was able to close the door. The flight continued to FAGC without further incident.
Damage to Aircraft
Inspection after landing revealed damage limited to the lower vertical stabiliser and the tail rotor guard. No other damage was reported.
Injuries to Persons
No injuries were reported. The pilot was unharmed, and there were no other occupants.
Probable Cause
The investigation stated that the incident was a result of the pilot's diverted attention while attempting to close the door at low height, causing inadvertent backward tilting of the cyclic control and resulting in a tail strike.