History of Flight
On 23 March 2009, the pilot and a passenger departed from a private helipad at Sea Rest Farm near Port Elizabeth on a private flight to East London Aerodrome. The helicopter had 100 litres of usable fuel. After taking off in a south-westerly direction and climbing to 800 feet, the pilot turned east. He then felt a loss of engine power, the low rotor RPM horn sounded, and the engine failed. The pilot immediately entered autorotation and performed a forced landing on Woody Cape Beach. The aircraft came to rest facing east on the sand.
Damage to Aircraft
The helicopter sustained major damage. The tail boom was cut by the main rotor blades, the right windshield was damaged, and the left-hand skid was damaged upon impact with the ground. The cabin structure sustained only minor damage, making the accident survivable.
Injuries
No injuries were reported among the pilot or passenger.
Fuel Contamination
An onsite investigation found water in the drum used to refuel the aircraft. The aircraft maintenance organisation that recovered the helicopter discovered three litres of water in the fuel tanks, as well as water in the gascolator and carburettor fuel bowls.
Probable Cause
The probable cause, as stated in the official report, was engine failure due to fuel contamination, which resulted in the pilot executing a forced landing.