What happened
On 22 April 2015, a Bell 205 helicopter, registration ZU-UHI, was engaged in a firefighting mission near the Bain's Kloof Pass area. The aircraft had departed from Tulbagh Forestry Station to assist with active fire suppression. As the pilot approached a temporary landing zone on the R301 regional road to attach a 'bambi' bucket, the aircraft was hovering approximately 50 meters from the landing site.
During the landing attempt, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft away from the road toward the mountainside. During this transition, the helicopter'-s main rotor blades struck the terrain. The impact caused the aircraft to roll onto its left side, leading to a severe crash. The impact ruptured the fuel tanks, igniting a post-impact fire. Although ground crews and another helicopter, ZS-HBU, attempted to suppress the flames, the wreckage was further consumed by an overnight veld fire. Both the pilot and the helicopter safety lead on board were killed in the accident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and flight circumstances to determine the cause of the loss of control. The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path, meteorological conditions, and maintenance history. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's movement, noting that the helicopter pitched upward and banked left before the rotor blades contacted the rising terrain.
Technical inspections of the hydraulic lines and actuators showed no mechanical anomalies that contributed to the crash. However, the investigation did identify significant maintenance discrepancies. Records indicated that several critical components had exceeded their service life limits, including the swash plate assembly and the rotating bolt kit.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the main rotor blades making contact with the terrain during an aborted landing attempt.
- A significant contributing factor was the loss of tail rotor effectiveness caused by a crosswind component of 12-15 knots during a left-hand turn.
- The aircraft was operating at low speeds in gusty conditions, which increased the difficulty of maintaining control.
- Maintenance records revealed that the aircraft was not properly maintained, with key components having flown well beyond their prescribed life limits.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the regulator withdrew the operator's certificate privileges, pending the rectification of several audit findings. In response to the tragedy, the operator engaged international experts to conduct a comprehensive operational review of their safety procedures.