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| Date: | Tuesday 16 November 2004 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven II |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | ZS-RJB |
| MSN: | 10290 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2004 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Tierkop in Cathcart district -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Mayolo, 19nm North-West of Umtata |
| 18nm West of Cathcart (Tierkop) | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot, accompanied by three passengers was engaged in a domestic charter flight conducting cell phone tower inspections in the Eastern Cape area of Cathcart. They approached the tower to be inspected, which was located on top of a ridge at low level, with the pilot's intention being to initiate his final approach within ground effect, due to relative high- density altitude and temperature conditions limiting power. During a turn to the right, the main rotor RPM suddenly decayed and the audio warning sounded. Due to insufficient height available, aggravated by terrain the pilot was unable to recover the main rotor RPM. The rate of descent increased substantially in the turn and the pilot realised that he would not be able to complete the turn into wind due to the attitude of the aircraft, which would have resulted in a rollover on touch down. The pilot managed to level the rotors prior to touch down, and a hard landing followed, which resulted in the main rotor blades impacting the upper tail boom structure. Following the hard landing, the pilot secured the aircraft and all four occupants disembarked uninjured. PROBABLE CAUSE: The pilot attempted a landing in mountainous terrain, while manoeuvring the aircraft to land into wind he allowed the main rotor RPM to decay. He was unable to recover from the condition due to limited height being available, aggravated by rocky terrain, resulting in a hard landing and the main rotor contacting the tailboom.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
S.A. CAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
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