What happened
On 13 December 2016, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-RWV, was involved in an accident on a private farm in the Free State Province. The flight, conducted under private Part 91 operations, began at approximately 03:30Z from Blaauwboschpan farm. The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, initially intended to fly over the farm to inspect vegetation and water pivots. During the mission, the pilot decided to land at a nearby farm.
While attempting to take off from this second location, the pilot encountered electrical power lines. Although the pilot attempted evasive maneuvers to prevent a strike, the main rotor blades made contact with the lines. This impact caused the pilot to lose control, leading to a hard impact with the ground. The helicopter was destroyed in the sequence. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators established that the aircraft was properly maintained and held a valid certificate of airworthiness. The engine and airframe components showed no mechanical anomalies that contributed to the crash. The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the pilot's visibility during the transition to flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with electrical power lines during the takeoff transition.
- The pilot's visibility was severely compromised because the takeoff was performed facing the east, directly into the rising sun.
- The glare from the sun masked the presence of the power lines, making them difficult to detect until it was too late to avoid contact.
- The pilot was aware of the power lines' existence in the area but could not clearly see them due to the sun's position at sunrise.