What happened
On the morning of September 29, 2001, a Robinson R22 Beta, registration ZS-RIA, departed from a smallholding in Brits for a scheduled game count mission. The flight was intended to take approximately 25 minutes, traveling to a farm located roughly 20 km east of Hammanskraal.
Prior to departure, the pilot had refueled the aircraft to its full capacity and carried several additional containers of avgas. Upon reaching the destination farm, the pilot transferred fuel into containers provided by the client and subsequently drained 33 litres of avga from the helicopter's tanks into those containers.
After taking off with a passenger, the crew completed about 60% of the intended game count. The pilot returned to the farm to replenish the aircraft's fuel, taking on 15 litres of avgas. Shortly after resuming the mission, the engine began to run rough while the aircraft was performing a turn. The pilot attempted a forced landing, but the impact resulted in both the pilot and the passenger losing consciousness. No fatalities or injuries were reported following the crash, which occurred in open bush along a farm road.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the sequence of fuel handling and the mechanical state of the engine. The investigation looked into the fuel levels following the various transfers of avgas at the destination farm and the subsequent refueling attempt. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, which were noted as fine at the time of the occurrence.