Accident Overview
On 2 July 2015, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration ZS-HXP, was involved in an accident during a game capture operation on Farm Oufontein in the Victoria West district, Northern Cape, South Africa. The accident occurred at approximately 12:30Z at GPS coordinates 31°14.762' South 023°45.556' East, elevation 4,073 feet AMSL.
Flight History
The pilot, aged 30, held a commercial pilot license and had accumulated 3,050 total flying hours, including 99 hours on type. The helicopter was operated by Kukamata Game Capture under Part 137 regulations. The pilot, accompanied by a net-gun operator, departed the private farm at approximately 11:30Z and flew in a north-westerly direction to capture antelope (springbok). During the final capture attempt, the helicopter was manoeuvred about 15 metres above the antelope. The net-gun operator fired the net gun, but one of the four net weights became stuck in the barrel. This caused the net to swing into the tail rotor. The helicopter began spinning out of control, and the pilot reduced engine power to idle just before impact with the ground.
Accident Sequence and Damage
During the impact, the main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom. One main rotor blade also impacted the cockpit area, causing serious head injuries to the net-gun operator, who was rendered unconscious. The net-gun operator succumbed to his injuries in hospital four days later. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The tail rotor assembly was found 20 metres from the main wreckage.
Meteorological Conditions
Surface wind at the time was 270°/3 knots, temperature 17°C, and visibility 8,000 metres. Satellite imagery indicated clear skies. De Aar and Fraserburg weather stations reported north-westerly winds up to 10 knots with moderate turbulence at low levels.
Probable Cause
The accident investigation determined the probable cause: one of the four net weights became stuck in the barrel of the net gun when it was fired, causing the net to swing into the tail rotor. The pilot lost control of the helicopter when it started spinning in a clockwise direction and impacted the ground.