History of Flight
On 30 July 2019 at approximately 0900Z, a Bell 47G-3B-1 helicopter (registration ZS-HGY) departed from Tshwarelano Game Lodge in Alldays, Limpopo Province, for a game culling flight. The pilot and a passenger were on board. About 15 minutes into the flight, while flying at 20–30 knots at 200 feet above ground level, the tail section began vibrating. The pilot disengaged and re-engaged the fuel pump, but the vibration continued. Approximately five seconds later, the helicopter started spinning clockwise. The passenger reported that the helicopter spun about six times before losing height and impacting the ground. The helicopter came to rest upright, facing west.
Injuries and Damage
Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot was unconscious after the impact; the passenger freed himself and assisted the pilot out of the helicopter. A post-impact fire erupted, and the helicopter was destroyed. The pilot later died at a medical facility in Alldays. The passenger was also transported to a medical facility.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a Bell 47G-3B-1, manufactured by Westland Helicopters LTD in 1967, with serial number 164. It was operated under Part 137 (game culling) and Part 94 and 96 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations. The last mandatory periodic inspection was on 14 July 2018 at 3743.9 airframe hours. The Authority to Fly was valid until 30 September 2019.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot lost control of the helicopter due to a tail rotor failure. This resulted in an uncontrollable spin before impact. A contributing factor was lack of lubrication.