Robinson R44 Raven I Accident at Africa Sand Safaris Game Farm (ZS-HIG)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence On 12 July 2012, a Robinson R44 Raven I helicopter, registration ZS-HIG, was conducting a private flight from a farm near Lephalale in Limpopo province to Africa Sand Safaris game farm in the Stockpoort district. The aircraft was piloted by its owner, a 53-year-old private pilot with 770 total flight hours and 114 hours on type, accompanied by his 14-year-old son. The flight was intended to visit friends at the game farm before returning to the departure point. The helicopter approached the landing area from the north at approximately 1320Z. The pilot assessed the wind as coming from the north-east based on dust movement, while the farm manager observed a south-westerly wind of approximately 20 knots. The helicopter entered a hover at approximately 30 feet above ground level when it began an unanticipated severe yaw to the right. The pilot attempted to counteract the yaw using tail rotor pedals, but the controls had no effect. The helicopter completed four full 360-degree rotations before impacting the ground in an upright position. The impact caused the right aft skid gear to collapse and the main rotor blades to strike the tail boom and ground on the right-hand side of the fuselage. The pilot sustained a lower back injury and the passenger injured his right elbow. Both occupants exited the helicopter unassisted and were admitted to a hospital in Lephalale. The passenger was discharged the same day, while the pilot was discharged the following day. The accident occurred at GPS coordinates South 23° 25.465' East 027° 35.079' at an elevation of 2,773 feet above mean sea level. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, with no other damage reported. The aircraft, serial number 2150, was manufactured in 2011 and had 62.6 total airframe hours at the time of the accident. It had been imported from the United States and completed a mandatory periodic inspection on 26 January 2012.