History of Flight
On 17 February 2015, at approximately 0610Z, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration ZS-RNF, was conducting a commercial cargo-moving flight on a private farm near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The pilot, who also owned the helicopter, was accompanied by two passengers. The cargo, a bontebok (a medium-sized antelope), was loaded onto the right-hand side skid. One passenger sat in the rear right seat, while the other acted as ballast on the left side. During lift-off, the right skid became caught by a rock, causing the helicopter to roll over onto its right side and crash. The pilot and passengers evacuated without injury before a fire erupted and consumed the helicopter.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries were reported among the one pilot and two passengers. The helicopter was destroyed by the post-impact fire.
Personnel Information
The pilot, a 60-year-old male, held a Commercial Helicopter License with endorsements for instrument, instructor Grade 2, and night ratings. He had accumulated 21,089 total flying hours, including 6,500 hours on type. His medical certificate was valid with a restriction for corrective lenses.
Aircraft Information
The Robinson R44 (serial number 1167, manufactured in 2002) was powered by a Lycoming O-540-F1B5 engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe had 4,023.7 total hours. The helicopter was equipped with a bladder-type fuel tank as per Service Bulletin SB-78. The most recent maintenance inspection was on 18 November 2014 at 3,966.7 hours. The certificate of airworthiness was issued on 10 February 2015 and valid until 20 February 2016.
Weight and Balance
No mass and balance calculation was performed for the cargo flight. Based on estimates, the helicopter weighed approximately 2,364 lb at takeoff, within the maximum allowable takeoff weight of 2,500 lb. The cargo (bontebok) was estimated at 226 lb, positioned on the right skid. The rear passenger and animal were both on the right side, contributing to an unbalanced load distribution.
Meteorological Conditions
Wind was from 030° at 6 kt, visibility CAVOK, temperature 19°C, dew point 13°C, with no cloud cover. Daylight conditions prevailed.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident occurred on a private farm with a rocky surface and bushy terrain (GPS: S33° 56' 1.39", E024° 43' 25.23"). Both landing skids broke off and dug into the ground. The right skid was broken at the front, indicating the helicopter lifted off before impacting nose-down. The bladder-type fuel tank ruptured in the accident sequence, and fire ignited from electrical sources, consuming the fuselage. Main rotor blades separated.
Probable Cause and Contributory Factors
The investigation determined that the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover during takeoff. A contributory factor was wrong load distribution.