Bell 407 Helicopter Forced Landing at Grand Central Aerodrome (ZS-RLS)

Overview and Occurrence Details On 15 February 2024, a Bell 407 helicopter registered ZS-RLS, operated by National Airways Corporation (NAC), was involved in an accident at Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC) in Gauteng province, South Africa. The occurrence was classified as an accident under the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 and ICAO Annex 13 definitions. The flight was a training operation under Part 141, involving a flight instructor and a student pilot. ## Flight History and Sequence of Events The helicopter departed from Ultimate Heliport in Gauteng province with the intention of repositioning to Grand Central Aerodrome to conduct training exercises on simulated engine failure autorotation with power-on recovery. Clear weather conditions prevailed, and the flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) at night. Before heading to FAGC, the instructor conducted two successful demonstrations of autorotation at the heliport. Upon arrival at FAGC, the instructor demonstrated the procedures while the student pilot observed. The student pilot then flew a circuit and climbed to 6,000 feet (approximately 700 feet above the runway level). During the final approach for Runway 35, the student pilot prepared to conduct an autorotation by lowering the collective pitch lever. The instructor rolled the throttle to the idle position to initiate the autorotation. However, an audio warning alerted the instructor that the engine had stopped. The instructor took control of the helicopter and executed a forced landing. ## Damage and Injuries The helicopter landed with significant force, resulting in the main rotor blades severing the tail boom. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No injuries were reported during this accident. ## Investigation The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) was notified of the occurrence and appointed an investigator-in-charge. Notifications were sent to the State of Registry, Operator, Design, and Manufacturer in accordance with CAR 2011 Part 12 and ICAO Annex 13 Chapter 4. The States of Manufacturer and Engine Design appointed two accredited representatives (airframe and engine). The AIID is leading the investigation and will issue the final report in accordance with applicable regulations.