What happened
On August 15, 2000, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration ZS-RCV, was conducting a routine crime prevention patrol near Grand Central Airport. The crew, which included a pilot, a peace officer, and one passenger, responded to an emergency distress call regarding an ambulance crew being attacked by a crowd in Tembacia.
As the aircraft approached the area to assist, the crew observed a large gathering of several hundred people. During the mission, reports were received that a child had been stabbed, though the child's exact location was unknown. In an attempt to locate the injured individual, the peace officer requested a descent. While flying at approximately 250 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced intense vibrations originating from the tail rotor, accompanied by a partial loss of tail rotor thrust.
Recognizing the mechanical failure, the pilot notified the occupants of the emergency and performed an immediate landing in a nearby field. Despite the significant loss of power and mechanical distress, the landing was completed without any zero injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft following the emergency landing. A post-incident inspection of the Bell 206B revealed visible damage to the tail rotor assembly. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the vibration and the physical state of the rotor components.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was that a tail rotor blade (Serial No. CS 4488) struck a foreign object while in flight.
- This impact resulted in extensive damage to the blade.
- The damage to the blade induced severe vibrations throughout the tail rotor system and a subsequent reduction in thrust.