ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 195502
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| Date: | Friday 19 May 2017 |
| Time: | 15:12 UTC |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven II |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | ZS-HFF |
| MSN: | 12629 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2009 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Heilbron, Free State -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Nampo Park near Bothaville |
| De Hoop private farm near Frankfort | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On Friday 19 May 2017 at approximately 1430Z, the pilot, accompanied by three passengers comprising an adult male and 3 passengers took off from Nampo Park (S27°13‟936” E026°39‟958”) near Bothaville in Free State Province on a private flight destined for De Hoop private farm near Frankfort in Free State Province.
The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) during daylight hours. According to an eyewitness at Ongegund private farm, the helicopter was approaching from the west direction towards Heilbron (Free State Province) when he heard a sudden change in the engine tone followed by the helicopter descending rapidly in a nose-down attitude. The pilot appeared to execute autorotation, as the nose of the helicopter was observed pitching up shortly before the helicopter crashed into the ground. The main rotor severed the tail boom on impact.
It was established that the helicopter hit the ground heavily during the high-velocity impact sequence. The pilot and the passengers were fatally injured during the impact sequence. The adult male passenger and the other 14-year-old male passenger survived the accident with serious injuries. Investigation of the engine and components and associated flight controls showed no malfunction.
Probable Cause
The helicopter experience engine stoppage, the pilot executed autorotation, however the helicopter was observed pitching nose up and impacted the ground in high velocity the main rotor severed the tail boom on impact.
Contributory Factor:
Undetermined engine failure.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2017/05/20/Two-killed%E2%80%9A-two-injured-in-Free-State-helicopter-crash
http://avcom.co.za/phpBB3//phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=191128&sid=8d60b418a0f3ba8f35768d5c4a128783
https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-nuus/twee-sterf-toe-helikopter-in-die-vrystaat-neerstort/
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/free-state/two-killed-two-injured-in-heilbron-helicopter-crash-9241815
Images:
Media:
eNCA | Two killed in Heilbron helicopter crash https://t.co/UDV3BcRDdv pic.twitter.com/ZpmuMHNuxm
— eNews Direct (@eNewsDirect) 20 mai 2017
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-May-2017 10:03 | gerard57 | Added |
| 20-May-2017 11:51 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo, ] |
| 20-May-2017 14:07 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 20-May-2017 18:39 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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