History of Flight
The pilot and a passenger departed Pietersburg Civil Aerodrome on a private VFR flight to Tzaneen Aerodrome. En route, the helicopter impacted grass-covered terrain with scattered trees near Moabi Village at approximately 1130Z, about 25 km east of Pietersburg in Limpopo Province.
Injuries
The passenger sustained fatal injuries during the impact sequence. The pilot sustained serious injuries and died in hospital approximately two weeks later.
Damage to Aircraft
The helicopter was extensively damaged. Main rotor blades were under power at impact and struck the tail boom, severing the aft section including the tail rotor, which was found some distance from the main wreckage. Outer sections of a main rotor blade were located approximately 115 m from the main wreckage. The fuel tanks did not rupture, preventing a post-impact fire. The fuel quantity gauge indicated about 38 USG remaining, equating to approximately 2.5 hours of fuel endurance.
Investigation
The pilot held a valid private helicopter license with type endorsement for the R44 and had accumulated 312.5 total flight hours on the type. The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and was maintained by an approved maintenance organization. Weather at the time was CAVOK with wind 180° at 8 knots, temperature 25°C, and no significant clouds. No defects or malfunctions had been reported with the navigation or communication equipment. The cockpit area was destroyed, and despite proper use of safety harnesses, the accident was not considered survivable due to high impact forces. A fixed-wing pilot who flew in the same area that day reported gusty wind conditions that affected his aircraft's stability.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was undetermined.