What happened
On 20 March 2008, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter was conducting a private flight from Brits aerodrome to Rustenburg aerodrome. While flying at approximately 1,500 feet AGL over a residential area near Rustenburg, the pilot attempted to adjust the collective pitch lever. This action caused the engine RPM to drop immediately to idle. Despite the pilot's attempts to adjust the throttle, the engine speed remained stuck at idle.
In response to the loss of engine power, the pilot initiated an autorotation. The maneuver resulted in a hard landing in an open, grassy area of veld about 1 km from the residential area. While the pilot sustained no injuries, the aircraft suffered significant damage to the main rotor, tail rotor, tail boom, and skid gear.