What happened
On 19 January 2021, a Bell 206B II Jet Ranger with registration ZS-HUC was performing agricultural duties at Silverstroom Farm in Wolseley, Western Cape. The pilot was engaged in spraying fruit fly baiting chemicals over pear orchards. The flight followed an uneventful operation conducted on the same farm the previous day.
During the early morning hours, the helicopter was flying in an easterly direction when it struck the earth conductor of high-tension electrical cables. The impact caused a loud popping sound and the immediate cessation of engine noise, followed by a heavy crash. The collision severed the earth conductor, causing a power outage in the nearby town of Ceres. The aircraft crashed between orchards, and the 1 fatality was the pilot on board.