Bell 206L-4 Crash in Limpopo Due to Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (ZS-REG)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 28 April 2018, a Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-4, registration ZS-REG, operated by Breaker Flight (Pty) Ltd, crashed in the Kuschke Nature Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa. The helicopter was conducting a private scenic flight under Part 91 regulations. The pilot, a 43-year-old male holding a valid Private Pilot Licence (Helicopter), took off from a private farm in Snymansdrift at approximately 0530Z with six passengers on board. The flight was intended to route over the nature reserve for wildlife viewing before returning to the departure point. ## Sequence of Events After approximately 15 minutes of flight, the helicopter was flying at a low level and low speed over hilly terrain for sightseeing. As the pilot concluded the sightseeing portion and initiated a right turn by applying power and right anti-torque pedal, the aircraft swung violently to the right and entered a spiral dive. The pilot reported that normal flight could not be sustained. At 0547Z, after completing three full revolutions, the helicopter impacted dense bushy terrain. The aircraft came to rest on its port side facing a magnetic heading of 300°. ## Damage and Injuries The helicopter sustained substantial damage, breaking into three main pieces: the fuselage, tail boom, and tail rotor assembly. The tail boom was severed from the main fuselage, and the skids were torn off and broken. The main rotor and tail rotor blades were damaged, and both main rotor pitch links were broken. All seven occupants—one pilot and six passengers—sustained minor injuries, including cuts and bruises. No fatalities occurred. The accident was considered survivable, with the skids absorbing most of the impact forces and all safety harnesses remaining intact. ## Investigation Findings The investigation determined that the helicopter was abruptly maneuvered to the right at low speed, causing the tail rotor system to move to the left at a high rate. This affected the airflow on the tail rotor, resulting in a Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE). Contributing factors included the aircraft operating very close to Maximum All-Up Weight (MAUW) parameters and the pilot's limited experience, with only 41.0 hours on type. The helicopter was within its mass limitations and allowable center of gravity limits at the time of the accident. ## Meteorological and Operational Conditions The accident occurred in daylight conditions with no wind, a temperature of 13°C, and visibility of 5,000 meters. The sky was overcast with a cloud base at 1,000 feet AGL, and mist was present. The helicopter was equipped with standard navigational equipment, and no defects were recorded. The accident site was located at coordinates S24°01'26.5” E029°19'06.1”, at an elevation of approximately 4,800 feet, 14 nautical miles southwest of Polokwane Airfield (FAPP).