ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 140527
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| Date: | Sunday 27 December 1998 |
| Time: | 09:05 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Astro |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | ZS-RGY |
| MSN: | 0213 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1995 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 30 km North West of Greytown -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Phoenix (Near Virginia), RSA |
| Muden (Near Greytown), RSA | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
The pilot, accompanied by his brother in law and his two grandsons, departed Phoenix (10 nautical miles North from Durban) on the morning of 27 December 1998 for a private VFR (Visual Rules) flight to Muden where they would have visited family. Muden is situated approximately 55 nautical miles North West from Durban and 12 nautical miles North West from Greytown.
The surface synoptic chart indicated that there was an onshore flow of moist maritime air from a weak high pressure cell to an interior low over the eastern Free State. This resulted in cloudy to overcast low cloud conditions over Kwa-Zulu Natal with associated rain and mist.
At approximately 08:30 Z the pilot contacted his family while in the vicinity of Merthley Lake, which is located 2 nautical miles Norh West from Greytown, and stated that he was experiencing bad weather with mist in the region. He then stated that he would try and fly to Muden via Keats Drift, which is a low lying area located 12 nautical miles North West from Greytown.
At approximately 08:45 Z, a farm labourer was working on a farm in the Regina region (8 nautical miles North East from Greytown) when he heard the sound of a helicopter. He heard the engine noise increase and saw the helicopter appearing out of the cloud (low mist) above a hill-side flying in a Northerly direction.
According to the eye-witness, the helicopter was banked slightly to the right and was flying straight along the hill when it suddenly banked sharply to the right and flew back along the low lying valley in a Southerly direction. The helicopter was flying with its nose pitched down with a high engine note. It then impacted into the side of the mountain.
He ran towards the wreckage and noticed that three of the occupants had apparently been fatally injured with one child in a critical condition. The child died a short while later
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=13081
2. http://www.caa.co.za/Pages/Default.aspxresource%20center/accidents%20&%20incid/reports/1998/6987.pdf
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://coptercrazy.brinkster.net/search/r44show.asp?start=201&count=50]
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Dec-2011 17:32 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 23-Dec-2011 19:11 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-Aug-2016 18:33 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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