Accident Details
On 9 December 2000 at 0930Z, a private Enstrom 280C helicopter, registration ZS-HTA, departed from and was returning to Middelburg Aerodrome in South Africa. The pilot, who held a private pilot license with 112.5 total flying hours, was the sole occupant. Weather was reported as fine.
Pilot Statement
According to a statement obtained from the pilot, he was approaching the airfield from the south, approximately 4 nautical miles out, when he observed a warthog in a field. He decided to turn around for a closer look. During the turn, turbulence over high ground caused the cyclic control (stick) to fall to the left. The pilot had to take his leg off the pedal to hold the cyclic. As he pushed the cyclic back, his concentration was lost and rotor rpm began to decay. He realized he was too low to recover within the "deadman's curve" and performed an emergency flare. Due to the slope of the terrain (a hill or "koppie"), the tail rotor struck the ground first.
Probable Cause
The pilot’s attention was distracted when he saw the warthog, while executing a turn to have a closer look he allowed the main rotor rpm to decay to such an extent that he was unable to recover from the condition.