2015 Robinson R44 Raven II accident at Delareyville (ZS-HCH)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 30 May 2015, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-HCH, was destroyed when it collided with a large blue gum tree during an approach to Delareyville aerodrome (FADL) in South Africa. The accident occurred at 0540Z in an open field near the Delareyville Golf Course, with GPS coordinates 26°41.650’ South 025°28.048’ East and an elevation of 4,440 feet. The aircraft was owned by Chata Ranch Family Trust and operated under private Part 91 rules. The pilot, a 58-year-old South African holding a valid private pilot licence, departed from Vryburg at 0509Z with his youngest son and wife aboard. The flight was intended to Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) in Gauteng Province. Prior to the accident, the pilot had completed multiple flights on 29 May 2015, including trips between his farm near Tosca and Wonderboom Aerodrome. ## Occupants and Injuries Three people were on board: the pilot in the right front seat, his wife in the left front seat, and his son in the left aft seat. The pilot died at the scene. His wife sustained serious injuries to her lower back, neck, ribs, and left ankle; she was transported by air ambulance to Grand Central aerodrome (FAGC) and then by road to a private hospital in Johannesburg, where she underwent surgery. The son suffered a bleeding nose and concussion and was discharged the following day. ## Contributing Factors During the flight, the pilot’s wife reported difficulty communicating due to a faulty noise-reducing headset and requested an en-route landing to replace it. Additionally, the pilot’s door was not properly latched at the top, creating unnecessary noise. Neither surviving occupant recalled seeing the tree before impact. ## Aircraft Damage and Investigation Findings The helicopter struck the tree at 0.55 nautical miles from the threshold of runway 04 at Delareyville aerodrome. Following the collision, the pilot lost control, and the aircraft impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude, coming to rest on its right-hand side approximately 80 metres beyond the tree. The cockpit/cabin structure was severely disrupted, the skid gear broke off, and the tail boom was severed by the main rotor blades. The investigation determined that the helicopter collided with the tree during descent for an intended landing, after which the pilot lost control before impacting terrain. The probable cause was the collision with the tree during descent, leading to loss of control and subsequent ground impact.