What happened
On 29 November 2011, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-RDG, was conducting a local private flight departing from Wonderboom Aerodrome in Gauteng Province. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers, with the intention of returning to the same aerodrome.
During the initial phase of the flight—specifically while transitioning from a vertical ascent and hover into forward flight—the aircraft experienced a sudden drift to the right accompanied by a nose-down attitude. The pilot attempted to counteract this movement using left cyclic input; however, the helicopter lost altitude and descended toward the terrain. The right-hand skid struck the ground first, triggering a dynamic rollover onto the right side of the aircraft. Despite the impact, there were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the four occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight conditions and the sequence of the impact. At the time of the accident, the weather featured good visibility and a temperature of 22°C. Surface winds were recorded at 030 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts up to 15 knots. The investigation noted that the takeoff was performed with a crosswind component originating from the left side of the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained significant structural damage, including the fuselage, tail boom, main rotor, tail rotor, and skids.
- The primary factor in the accident was the loss of control during takeoff while operating in crosswind conditions, which led to the skid making contact with the ground and the subsequent dynamic rollover.