Enstrom 280 FX Helicopter Accident at Kitty Hawk Aero Estate Airstrip (ZS-HWR)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 20 February 2011, an Enstrom 280 FX helicopter, registration ZS-HWR, operated by Rotor Craft Services CC, was involved in an accident during a private pleasure flight. The aircraft departed Kitty Hawk Aero Estate Airstrip (FAKT) at approximately 1415Z, with a 55-year-old private pilot and one passenger on board. This was the third flight of the day for the helicopter, following two uneventful sorties. During the third flight, the engine spluttered as the helicopter accelerated to about 60 mph, followed by a sudden loss of power. The pilot initiated an autorotation emergency landing on an open stretch of veld on the southern side of the airfield, at GPS coordinates S25°24'45.2 E028°17'30.9. The helicopter landed hard, rolled over onto its right side, and sustained substantial damage. Neither occupant was injured. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Details The helicopter, manufactured in 1989, had a total airframe time of 1,586.5 hours at the time of the accident. It was powered by a Textron Lycoming HIO 360 F1AD engine, which had 102.9 hours since overhaul. The aircraft had undergone a mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) on 26 November 2010, after which it flew only 0.6 hours before the accident. The engine had been overhauled and re-fitted in 2006, and a previous engine defect related to the electric fuel booster pump was rectified in 2009. All aircraft documentation was valid, and no major defects or damage were recorded prior to the accident. ## Wreckage and Impact Analysis The main rotor blades struck the tail boom during the landing sequence, severing the boom and tail rotor assembly. The tail rotor drive shaft, control cables, and electrical wires in the boom were damaged. The helicopter rolled over onto its right side approximately 50 meters from the point of first impact, ending up facing the opposite direction of its initial flight path. The left skid was found about 20 meters from the main wreckage, and a piece of sheet metal from the tail boom was located about 30 meters away. It was concluded that after the left skid broke, the airframe initially struck the ground on its lower left side, then spun on the ground, toppling over onto its right side. ## Investigation Findings The wreckage was recovered to Kitty Hawk for examination to determine the cause of the loss of engine power. The engine sustained only minor damage, allowing a ground-run test to be conducted without removing it from the wreckage. The test was executed at various power settings up to maximum, and no anomaly was identified to explain the power loss during flight. The right-hand fuel tank was full, and the left-hand fuel tank was empty, as fuel had been used up during the flight. No fuel contamination was found. The accident was considered survivable, with the cockpit and cabin area remaining intact, and both occupants properly restrained with safety belts and harnesses.