What happened
On the morning of 0/3/2009, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registration ZS-RDB, was performing a private positioning flight between two locations in the Eastern Cape. The aircraft was traveling from the Kwandwe game reserve toward the Kariega game reserve to support a game capturing operation.
While en route under visual flight rules, the helicopter struck terrain within the Kariega game reserve. The impact was severe, causing the aircraft to catch fire. Nearby game rangers, who heard a loud noise and observed thick smoke, rushed to the site and attempted to extinguish the flames, but the pilot had already sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the force of the collision and the subsequent intense fire.
The investigation
Investigators from the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and conducted a detailed teardown of the Lycoming engine. The inspection of the engine and the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical failure, engine malfunction, or system deficiencies prior to the impact. Notably, the investigation found that the engine was operating at a very high power setting at the time of the crash, and photographic evidence confirmed the main rotor was still rotating upon impact.
While the investigation could not recover the pilot's flight folio or fuel records due to the fire, the aircraft's maintenance records showed it had undergone a mandatory periodical inspection in April 2009. The weather at the time of the accident was clear with good visibility and light winds.
Findings
- The pilot was a highly experienced commercial pilot with over 8,000 total flying hours.
- The aircraft was being operated in favorable meteorological conditions.
- The probable cause of the accident remains undetermined, as no mechanical or system failures could be identified.
- Investigators could not rule out the possibility of pilot fatigue or a sudden medical event, though no definitive evidence was found to support these theories.