What happened
On the morning of 10 November 2025, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registered ZS-DLF, was performing agricultural pest-control duties in the Eastern Cape province. The flight, operated by Rotorworx Aviation, departed from Patensie Farm Airstrip heading toward Roodegrond Citrus Farm to begin a spraying mission.
While the pilot was executing a spray run in a south-easterly direction, the aircraft's main rotor mast struck a 1000-Volt overhead power line. The impact was catastrophic; the main rotor blades severed the tail boom and detached from the hub. The helicopter subsequently crashed between rows of citrus bushes, approximately 37 metres from the initial point of contact with the wires. The pilot sustained one fatal injury, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
An investigation by the South African Civil Aviation Authority Accident and Incident Investigations Division (SACAA AIID) established that the aircraft was operating under visual meteorological conditions. The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and a Class 1 medical certificate.
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the impact forces were consistent with the collision with the power line. The aircraft had recently undergone a mandatory periodic inspection, and the maintenance was being performed by an approved organisation. The investigation also noted that the power line, which was situated roughly 7.2 metres above the ground, was a private installation used to power water pumps on the farm.