What happened
On the morning of 2 February 2026, a Bell 407 helicopter, registration ZS-RBL, was engaged in a Part 141 proficiency training flight. The flight originated from Ultimate Heliport in Midrand, Gauteng, with a crew consisting of a chief flight instructor acting as pilot monitoring and a trainee pilot acting as pilot flying. After departing Midrand, the aircraft proceeded to Grand Central Aerodrome to perform specific flight maneuvers.
Upon arrival at Grand Central Aerodrome, the crew requested permission from air traffic control to perform autorotation exercises over the main taxiway. While the first two maneuvers were completed without issue, a problem arose during the third attempt. As the pilot flying flared the aircraft, the engine failed to spool up with sufficient speed to maintain the necessary rotor RPM for a smooth recovery. The instructor subsequently took control of the aircraft, but the lack of power resulted in a hard landing on the taxiway surface.
Following the impact, the instructor applied maximum power, allowing the aircraft to take off and return to Ultimate Heliport. While the engine and rotor performance returned to normal during the return leg, a post-flight inspection revealed damage to one main rotor blade and the upper sections of both vertical stabilizers, likely caused by the rotor blade striking the stabilizers during the heavy impact.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the flight records, pilot credentials, and maintenance history of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that both the instructor and the trainee held valid commercial and airline transport licenses, respectively, and possessed valid medical certificates.
Regarding the aircraft, the investigation found that the Bell 407 was within its maintenance schedule, having undergone a mandatory periodic inspection approximately 50 hours prior to the incident. The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration were both valid at the time of the occurrence.