History of Flight
On 10 April 2007 at approximately 1345Z, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration ZS-RTA, departed from Virginia Aerodrome in KwaZulu-Natal Province for a training flight intended to practice auto-rotation landings. The pilot-in-command, a 64-year-old commercial pilot with 18,503.6 total flying hours, was accompanied by a student pilot. The flight was duly authorized. The aircraft was correctly maintained and the pilot held a valid license and medical certificate.
During the exercise in the La Mercy area north of Durban, the student pilot attempted the recovery process too late. The pilot failed to intervene in time. The helicopter subsequently impacted the terrain. During the impact, the tail boom was severed from the helicopter and the helicopter erupted in fire.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants sustained fatal injuries during the accident sequence. The helicopter sustained substantial impact damage and was destroyed by the post-impact fire. Minor damage was caused to the surrounding vegetation.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause to be controlled flight into terrain.