What happened
On 5 June 2022, an Alouette III helicopter, registration ZU-RFE, was conducting a private flight from Marlbank River Estate to Rand Aerodrome. While cruising at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level over the Boipatong residential area in Vanderbijlpark, the pilot experienced a sudden engine failure. The incident began when engine warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel, immediately followed by an uncommanded engine shutdown.
In response to the loss of power, the pilot initiated an autorotation procedure. During the descent, the aircraft experienced a leftward yaw and a nose-up pitch, accompanied by violent vibrations. As the helicopter passed over high-tension power lines, the pilot noted a loss of hydraulic assistance, making the cyclic control difficult to manipulate. Despite efforts to maneuver the aircraft away from the lines, the helicopter struck a water channel with its tail section first, followed by the left side of the airframe. The pilot sustained serious injuries to the left arm, while the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
An investigation by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) AIID examined the wreckage and the flight sequence. Investigators noted that the impact marks suggested the aircraft hit the ground at a high nose attitude and a tilted angle. The wreckage assessment confirmed that the tail boom and various components, including the tail rotor blades, were severely damaged or displaced during the impact.
Technical reviews of the aircraft's maintenance history showed that the helicopter had been undergoing regular inspections, with the most recent annual inspection completed in August 2021. The investigation also noted that the engine was recovered for a detailed teardown examination to determine the exact nature of the failure. Additionally, investigators observed that the accident scene had been disturbed by bystanders prior to the official arrival of authorities.