Helicopter Crash in Breyten, South Africa (ZS-RFT)

Incident Overview On 2 June 2005, a Robinson R44 Astro helicopter with registration ZS-RFT crashed in a residential street in Breyten, South Africa. The aircraft was operating under a private license and was hired from a Durban-based company for personal use. The pilot, aged 44, had completed his conversion onto the Robinson R44 on 3 May 2005 and had 1,524.0 total flying hours, including 39.8 hours on type. The helicopter was carrying one pilot and one passenger, and both occupants were uninjured in the accident. ## Accident Sequence The pilot refueled the helicopter to capacity on his farm near Ermelo and flew to a heavy vehicle transport depot in the industrial area of Breyten. Shortly after lift-off for an intended flight to another transport depot near Middelburg, the pilot experienced a loss in engine power, described as a surge of power, followed by the activation of the low rotor rpm audio warning. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot identified a nearby open field for a precautionary landing. However, the take-off and flight path took the helicopter over a residential area. In an attempt to avoid colliding with the roof of a house, the tail rotor blades struck a TV antenna protruding several feet above the roof. The tail rotor blades fractured and separated from the tail rotor assembly, resulting in a loss of tail rotor control. The helicopter yawed to the right, and the pilot was unable to control the aircraft. It crashed in the street in front of the house and skidded across the street into an open plot, where it came to rest after the main rotor blades struck a lamppost. ## Investigation and Findings The fire brigade arrived on the scene within approximately five minutes of the accident. The two occupants evacuated the wreckage unassisted. The scene was secured by the South African Police Service (SAPS), and an on-site investigation was conducted. The engine, which was undamaged, was removed from the wreckage and subjected to an engine bench test procedure. The test confirmed that there was no evidence of a pre-existing discrepancy that could have precluded the normal functioning of the engine. The last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) certified on the aircraft prior to the accident was on 20 April 2005 at 1,463.4 airframe hours by AMO No. 115, which held a valid Aircraft Maintenance Organisation Approval. Since the MPI was certified, a further 40.4 hours were flown with the aircraft. ## Probable Cause The pilot allowed the main rotor rpm to decay as he initiated forward flight and ground effect dissipated. Being over a residential area, he had no immediate open area in which to land. While continuing to descend, the tail rotor blades struck a TV antenna protruding above the roof of a house, resulting in a loss of tail rotor control followed by a crash landing in the street in front of the house.