Factual Information
On 24 October 2016 at 0540Z, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration ZS-HAV, operated by Messina Chopper Services (Pty) Ltd, was involved in an accident on a private game farm 15 nautical miles north-west of Louis Trichardt, South Africa. The helicopter was manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Company and had accumulated 1046.4 airframe hours. The last mandatory periodic inspection was certified on 19 August 2016 at 1005 hours, with 41.4 hours flown since then. The Textron Lycoming IO-540-AE1AS engine (serial number L-32734-48E) had 1046.4 hours since new.
Sequence of Events
The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, departed from Musina chopper pad about 2 nautical miles north of Musina for a game counting flight. During the operation, the crew spotted a herd of impala and initiated a right turn towards the herd to count them. According to the pilot's statement, a low revolutions per minute (RPM) warning sounded during the turn. The pilot lowered the collective in an attempt to recover, but was unsuccessful. At that time, the helicopter was approximately 45 feet above ground level and continued losing altitude. Approaching the ground, the pilot flared and pulled the collective to cushion the landing. The main rotor blades struck trees and the tail boom, causing the tail boom to separate. The helicopter then impacted the ground and came to rest in an upright position. The pilot shut off the fuel valve and instructed the passengers to disembark without assistance.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries were sustained by the pilot or the two passengers. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades, tail rotor, fuselage, left windshield, and left-hand skid.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a 51-year-old male South African citizen holding a valid Commercial pilot license, with a total flying experience of 1172 hours, including 550.9 hours on type. His license was valid from 5 September 2008 to 4 September 2018, and his aviation medical certificate was valid until 30 May 2017. He had corrective lens restrictions noted on his license.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause to be an unsuccessful forced landing following a low rotor RPM.