What happened
On 19 August 2013, a private helicopter flight near Buffelspoort ended in an emergency landing that resulted in the total loss of the aircraft. The pilot was returning to the Bernardsvlei chicken farm following a solo pleasure flight when the engine began to spool down.
As the aircraft approached the intended landing area at an altitude of approximately 30 feet, it experienced a rightward yaw. In an attempt to manage the descending aircraft, the pilot executed a forced landing. During the flare maneuver, the tail rotor struck the ground first, leading to a severe impact. While the pilot managed to evacuate the wreckage unassisted, a post-impact fire broke out and completely consumed the Helicycle.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, registration ZU-REN, was intact upon impact, though one tail rotor blade detached after striking rocky ground.
Because the engine was destroyed by the subsequent fire, investigators could not perform a mechanical analysis to determine the specific reason for the engine malfunction. However, they were able to confirm that all control surfaces were present at the site and that the damage to the airframe was consistent with high impact forces. The investigation also noted that the pilot's medical certificate had expired at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful emergency landing following an engine malfunction.
- A contributing factor to the severity of the impact was poor landing technique.
- The pilot was operating with an invalid private pilot license due to an expired medical certificate.
- Weather conditions, including light winds and good visibility, were not contributing factors to the event.