Hughes 269C Helicopter Accident at Farm Eulalie, South Africa (ZS-HTJ)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 8 October 2010, at 1245Z, a Hughes 269C helicopter, registration ZS-HTJ, was involved in an accident at Farm Eulalie in the Marken district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The aircraft was operated by Renken Game Capture (Pty) Ltd for a game darting operation intended to capture Eland antelope. The pilot, a 47-year-old South African male holding a private pilot licence, was accompanied by a passenger/darter. Both helicopter doors were removed for the flight. Shortly after takeoff, while searching for antelope, the crew experienced a sudden increase in engine RPM followed by a decay in main rotor RPM. Unable to sustain flight, the pilot executed a forced landing in dense bush terrain. The helicopter landed hard upright on its skid gear, which collapsed and separated, causing the aircraft to roll onto its right-hand side. ## Injuries and Damage The pilot sustained serious injuries to his back when his shoulder harness failed during the impact sequence and was admitted to hospital. The passenger sustained minor cuts and bruises. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. No other damage was reported. ## Aircraft and Component Details The Hughes 269C, serial number 540308, was manufactured in 1975 and had 5,035.8 total airframe hours at the time of the accident. The engine was a Lycoming HIO-360-D1A. Post-field investigation revealed that the lower coupling driveshaft, part number 269A5559-3, serial number S1206, had failed in fatigue. This component, which connects the engine to the belt drive and subsequently the main and tail rotor transmission, had been replaced with a new unit on 21 June 2001 at 3,593.0 airframe hours. At the time of the accident, it had been in service for 1,442.8 hours, well below its 6,000-hour life limit. The driveshaft is a highly stressed component subject to torsion forces, and proper alignment and lubrication are critical for its service life.