Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in Midrand, South Africa (ZS-HRZ)

Accident Overview and Location details are provided in the source. The accident occurred on 27 May 2012 at 1321Z. The aircraft was a Bell 206B helicopter with registration ZS-HRZ. The crash site was located in Portland Park, Midrand, at GPS coordinates S 25° 59’34.12” E 028° 7’37.08” and an elevation of 5,100 ft. The helicopter collided with a concrete fence of an office park next to a public road. The aircraft sustained extensive damage, and the concrete perimeter fence and surrounding vegetation were also damaged. The owner was Money Aviation (Pty) Ltd, and the operator was listed as a private flight. The pilot was a 45-year-old South African male holding a valid private license. He had a total of 190.9 flying hours, with 21.4 hours on the Bell 206B type. The helicopter was manufactured in 1990 and had 3,015.2 total airframe hours at the time of the accident. The engine was a Rolls Royce 250-C20J. The flight originated from Grand Central aerodrome (FAGC) in Gauteng province. The pilot took off with two passengers for a private flight to a private aerodrome near Rooiberg in the Limpopo province. During the initial hover, the pilot observed a “Low RPM” warning light and an audio warning. He landed back at Grand Central aerodrome. One passenger and some baggage were offloaded. The pilot then attempted a second take-off. He advised air traffic control (ATC) of a power-related problem and intended to fly one circuit. While on a left downwind for runway 35, he reported a power loss and decided to return to the aerodrome. Shortly after this communication, the helicopter collided with the concrete fence. The pilot and the remaining passenger both suffered serious back injuries. The pilot was airlifted to a hospital in Johannesburg, and the passenger was taken by road ambulance. The probable cause was that the pilot allowed the main rotor RPM to decay and did not take corrective action before impacting the wall. Contributing factors included improper flight planning, lack of decision-making, and lack of familiarity with the helicopter type. The pilot did not perform detailed mass and balance calculations or consult performance charts. The helicopter was loaded within operating limitations, but the pilot stated it felt heavy during the first take-off attempt. Weather conditions were fine, with light and variable winds, a temperature of 19°C, and visibility of more than 10 km. The density altitude was calculated to be 7,000 feet. The pilot did not obtain an official weather report for the intended flight.