Fatal Robinson R44 Training Accident Near East London (ZS-RWW)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 9 September 2007, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registered ZS-RWW, departed Port Alfred Aerodrome (FAPA) for an instrument training flight to East London Aerodrome (FAEL). The aircraft was operated by 43 Air School and owned by Activest 23 (Pty) Ltd. The flight was conducted under the call sign Prima 442 (PIU442) with two pilots on board: a pilot flying in the right front seat and an instructor pilot in the left front seat. The pilot flying wore foggel-type glasses to limit outside visibility for instrument training purposes. The helicopter was refuelled with 130 litres of 100LL Avgas and filed an IFR flight plan. The initial phase of the flight was conducted at 1,500 feet AMSL until the aircraft was abeam Hamburg, approaching East London from the west. Radio communication was established with the East London control tower on VHF frequency 118.3 MHz, and the aircraft was cleared to climb to the Minimum Sector Altitude of 4,500 feet AMSL. ## Radar Observations and Loss of Contact Radar footage showed the aircraft climbing from 1,500 feet to 4,500 feet AMSL, where it levelled off and maintained an airspeed between 80 and 100 knots. The aircraft's height fluctuated between 4,400 and 4,600 feet AMSL, remaining within the 300-foot safety margin. As the aircraft approached the VOR/DME Runway 11 at East London Aerodrome, approximately 5 nautical miles from the aerodrome, the following sequence was recorded over 30 to 40 seconds: - Height 4,500 feet, airspeed 100 knots - Height 4,400 feet, airspeed 110 knots - Height 4,400 feet, airspeed 80 knots - Height 4,300 feet, airspeed 40 knots - Height 4,300 feet, airspeed 20 knots The aircraft then disappeared from the radar screen. ## Witness Accounts and Accident Site A witness in a nearby garden heard the helicopter flying but could not see it due to overcast conditions. The witness reported hearing the rotor blades slow down, followed by a loud noise, after which the helicopter went silent. The witness then observed the wreckage falling through the clouds in a nose-down attitude, with the cockpit/cabin area broken up. The witness also saw the body of one occupant among the falling wreckage. The main wreckage was located in dense bush-type terrain at a geographical position of South 33°04.210' East 027°47.212', approximately 5 km (2.7 nm) from the aerodrome on a heading of 250°M at an elevation of 300 feet AMSL. The accident occurred during daylight conditions. ## Casualties and Damage Both occupants on board the helicopter were fatally injured. There was no damage or injury to people or property on the ground, although the wreckage was scattered over a large area consisting of two farms. ## Probable Cause The probable cause of the accident was an incorrect recovery technique following a low-G push over condition in-flight, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the cockpit/cabin area, and subsequent loss of control.