What happened
On June 3, 2000, a Robinson R2MU helicopter, registration ZS-RBR, was conducting a private flight departing from Vaalwater. While the aircraft was traveling in a westerly direction at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power.
In response to the initial failure, the pilot initiated an autorotation procedure. During this maneuver, the engine was successfully restarted at an altitude of roughly 600 feet. However, the engine failed a second time shortly after the restart. The pilot subsequently performed a landing in an open field. During the touchdown, the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, causing a portion of the tail boom and the tail rotor to be severed from the airframe.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the dual engine failure and the subsequent impact. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, with clear skies, a temperature of 12°C, and light north-easterly winds of 3 knots. The investigation focused on the sequence of the engine power losses and the mechanical interaction between the rotor blades and the tail assembly during the field landing.
Findings
- The primary reason for the structural damage was that the main rotor blades made contact with the tail boom during the autorotational landing.
- The engine failure could not be definitively attributed to a specific mechanical or external cause.
- There were no injuries to the two occupants on board.