What happened
On 24 May 2012, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration ZS-PVH, was conducting a private VFR flight from Pietersburg Civil Aerodrome toward Tzaneen Aerodrome. During the transit, the aircraft impacted grass-covered terrain in an open area near the outskirts of Moabi Village in the Limporpo Province, approximately 25km east of Pietersburg.
The impact was severe, resulting in two fatalities. The passenger died at the scene, while the pilot sustained serious injuries and later passed away in the hospital approximately two weeks after the accident. The aircraft sustained extensive damage, and the force of the impact was such that the cockpit area was virtually destroyed.
The investigation
Investigators from the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the flight history of the aircraft. The investigation established that the helicopter was being maintained by an approved organization and held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had recorded 1041.0 airframe hours. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as clear with good visibility (CAVOK) and light winds.
Analysis of the wreckage revealed that the engine was still producing power during the impact sequence. Physical evidence showed that the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, causing the aft section and the tail rotor to be severed from the fuselage. Fragments of the main rotor blades were discovered approximately 115m away from the primary wreckage site. There was no evidence of a pre-impact or post-impact fire, as the fuel tanks did not rupture during the event.