What happened
On the evening of 15 February 2024, a Bell 407 helicopter, registered ZS-RLS, was conducting night training exercises in Gauteng province. The flight, operated by National Airways Corporation, involved a flight instructor and a student pilot. The mission began at Ultimate Heliport, where the crew successfully performed several simulated engine failure autorotation demonstrations.
After repositioning to Grand Central Aerodeome (FAGC), the student pilot took the controls to practice the maneuvers. While on final approach for Runway 35 at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the student pilot lowered the collective to initiate an autorotation, and the instructor adjusted the throttle to idle. During this process, an audible warning signaled that the engine had stopped. The instructor attempted to restart the engine by rolling the throttle, but the engine failed to relight.
Taking control of the aircraft, the instructor executed a forced landing. Due to the darkness and a lack of visual references, the instructor initiated the flare at approximately 80 feet above the ground, which was higher than standard procedure. The resulting hard landing caused the main rotor blades to strike the tail boom, severing it and causing substantial damage to the aircraft. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the aircraft, the crew, and the maintenance history. Investigators inspected the wreckage and found that the engine's external condition was good, with no signs of fuel or oil leaks, and the fuel samples were confirmed to be the correct grade (Jet A1) without impurities.
Physical examination of the airframe revealed that the main rotor blades had sustained impact damage and the tail boom had been severed at the point of attachment to the fuselage. The investigation also confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance was up to date, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent annual inspection completed in June 2023. The flight instructor and student pilot both held valid licenses and medical certificates at the time of the occurrence.