History of Flight
The pilot departed from Grahamstown airport and flew to a game farm south of Somerset East for an animal darting operation. After successfully darting three springboks, the pilot climbed to approximately 130 feet above ground level (AGL) to observe the fourth dart and direct a ground recovery vehicle. During the hover, the pilot noticed a motor bike rider approaching the herd and diverted his attention to communicate with the ground driver. The helicopter began to shudder, followed by a low rotor RPM warning horn. The pilot lowered the collective lever and attempted to gain forward speed, but the helicopter impacted the ground heavily. The helicopter was destroyed, and both occupants sustained minor injuries.
Injuries to Persons
The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries during the accident sequence.
Damage to Aircraft
The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a Commercial (Helicopter) licence with 7,825.2 total flying hours, including 3,998.5 hours on the accident type. He was 41 years old and had a valid Class 2 medical certificate with a corrective lenses restriction.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Robinson R22 Beta, serial number 4050, manufactured in 2006. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360-J2A engine. The total airframe hours at the time of the accident were 1,274.1. The last mandatory periodic inspection was conducted on 8 March 2015 at 1,262.4 hours, with 11.7 hours flown since then. The helicopter was maintained in accordance with approved procedures.
Meteorological Information
The wind was from 180° at 10 knots, visibility 10,000 feet, temperature 17°C, overcast with cloud base at 8,000 feet.
Location
The accident occurred on a game farm south of Somerset East at GPS coordinates S32°54'56", E025°21'31", field elevation 2,554 feet AMSL.