What happened
On 21 May 2002, a Hughes 360HS helicopter, registration ZS-HNE, was engaged in a game counting mission at the Premier Mine Game Park near Cullinan. The flight began after the aircraft departed from a farm near Hammanskraal with a pilot and a fuelling assistant. After an initial landing at the park's lapa for refueling and a briefing, the aircraft conducted a 55-minute counting session with three passengers on board.
Following a brief 20-minute shutdown, a second counting session commenced. The plan involved flying over open areas before replacing an inexperienced passenger with a more experienced crew member for denser bush areas. During this second leg, the pilot indicated that no additional fuel was required until the return flight. Approximately one hour into this phase, the aircraft encountered significant difficulties. As the helicopter attempted to clear high ground, it struck rocks heavily and caught fire, resulting in three fatalities and one injury.