What happened
On 23 May 2007, a private flight departed from Mpofu Safari Lodge, located approximately 60 km north of Lephalale, for the purpose of locating an injured antelope. The flight was conducted in a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registration ZS-RLY, carrying a pilot and one passenger.
While flying at a low altitude over the Mogol River, the aircraft's tail rotor made contact with a three-foot-high barbed wire fence. Following this impact, a witness observed the helicopter pitch upward sharply, enter a circular flight pattern, and subsequently plunge into the ground. The aircraft came to rest in reeds near the riverbank, sustaining extensive damage to the cabin, skids, tail boom, and rotor blades. The impact was so severe that the cabin area collapsed, making the accident non-survivable. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage, the engine, and the flight circumstances. Technical examinations of the engine revealed it was in good working order and had performed satisfactorily during bench testing, indicating no mechanical failure contributed to the crash. The investigation also confirmed that the aircraft had been maintained according to the approved schedule and held a valid certificate of airworthiness.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting a valid commercial pilot's license and medical certificate. However, the inquiry identified a regulatory discrepancy regarding the aircraft's registration; the new owner had failed to complete the required change of ownership, meaning the aircraft was not properly registered in the new owner's name at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the tail rotor striking a barbed wire fence during low-level flight.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft at an altitude that compromised flight safety, as the flight could have been conducted at a higher, safer altitude.
- The loss of tail rotor effectiveness following the fence strike rendered the helicopter uncontrollable.
- Meteorological conditions were clear with good visibility and had no impact on the event.
- The aircraft's engine and flight control surfaces were functional prior to the impact.