Accident Details
On 19 January 2021 at approximately 0550Z, a Bell 206B II Jet Ranger helicopter, registration ZS-HUC, was conducting crop-spraying operations at Silverstroom Farm near Wolseley, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The helicopter was spraying fruit fly baiting chemical on pear orchards due for harvest. The pilot was the sole occupant.
Sequence of Events
The pilot began spraying at about 0400Z. After a brief stop, the helicopter resumed flying. At around 0540Z, the pilot landed at a designated loading area about 2 km west of the accident site to refuel and reload chemical. Shortly after, the farm owner, located about 650 m north, heard a loud "popping" sound followed by the engine stopping, then a crash. He rushed to the scene to find the helicopter wrecked between pear orchards. No post-crash fire occurred.
Wreckage and On-Site Findings
The helicopter collided with the top earth conductor of high-tension electrical cables while flying east. The earth conductor broke, causing a power outage in the nearby town of Ceres. Metallic striation marks on the right skid's front section indicated a wire strike. The helicopter likely anchored on the right skid and rolled right, leading the pilot to abruptly move the cyclic left. This caused the main rotor blades to impact the left fuselage and tail boom, leading to in-flight breakup. The hot section of the engine separated. Debris scattered over an 80 m diameter. The engine was running at impact, as shown by rotary marks on the power turbine. No pre-existing mechanical or system faults were recorded.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter) with 486.8 hours on type and 1360.8 total flying hours. He had flown at the same farm three times prior, including 4.7 hours the day before. His duty hours did not exceed regulatory limits, making fatigue unlikely. The pilot was fatally injured.