Summary
On March 18, 2002, at approximately 1030Z, a Hughes 269C helicopter (registration ZS-HVD) departed from Farm Doornlaagte near Deben in the Northern Cape, South Africa, on a private flight with one pilot and one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power followed by a complete engine failure. The pilot executed a forced landing in a densely wooded area.
Accident Details
During the forced landing, the pilot attempted to select a suitable landing area but allowed the main rotor RPM to decay substantially. The helicopter subsequently made a hard landing. The impact caused the rear cross tube assembly to fail, allowing the main rotor blades to sever the tail boom. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but nobody on board was injured. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as fine.
Probable Cause
The loss of engine power and subsequent engine failure were attributed to the seizure of the No. 3 connecting rod big-end bearing. It is considered that the failure resulted from restricted oil flow over a period to the big-end bearing.