What happened
On 1 July 1999, at approximately 0730Z, a Robinson R22B helicopter, registration ZS-RCX, was involved in an accident at Farm "Lutopi" in the Mica area. The aircraft was engaged in aerial work related to a game capturing operation. While performing maneuvers at a low altitude, the aircraft's tail rotor struck a tree. This impact resulted in the immediate failure of the tail boom, causing the helicopter to crash.
At the time of the incident, the pilot was operating under an arrangement where flying hours were accumulated in exchange for boarding and lodging provided by the aircraft owner. Meteorological conditions were reported as fine, with calm winds, good visibility, and no cloud cover.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators established that the pilot held a valid private license with the appropriate type rating for the Robinson R22B. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had been maintained according to the approved maintenance schedule. The inquiry focused on the flight path and the sequence of maneuvers leading up to the contact with the tree, noting that the aircraft was operating at a low altitude during the period in question.