Robinson R44 ZS-PZZ Fatal 9160 Tmed__
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Section/division Occurrence Investigation Form Number: CA 12-12a AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Reference: CA18/2/3/9160 Aircraft ZS-PZZ Date of Accident 5 April 2013 Time of Accident 1630Z Registration Type of Type of Aircraft Robinson R44 II Raven (Helicopter) Private Flight Operation Commercial Pilot Pilot-in-command Licence Type Age 49 Licence Valid Yes Licence (CPL) Pilot -in -command Flying Total Flying Hours ± 7913,2 Hours on Type ± 2222,5 Experience Last point of departure Bela-Bela (private airfield) in Limpopo Province Next point of intended landing Roedtan (private airfield) in Limpopo Province Location of the accident site with reference to easily defined geographical points (GPS readings if possible) Nylstroom, near Bela-Bela in Limpopo province; GPS co-ordinates: S 24˚44’940” E028˚29’020”. Visibility: Low visibility, temperature:17˚, wind gusts: 20 kts, wind speed: 9 Meteorological Information kts. Number of people on 1 + 0 No. of people injured 0 No. of people killed 1 board Synopsis The pilot was the sole occupant on board the Robinson RH44 helicopter. He flew the helicopter from Bela- Bela to Roedtan. The pilot lost sight of the ground in the process of avoiding the thunderstorm. A thunderstorm intercepted the flight path to Roedtan. .The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed in the accident. An investigation determined that the pilot may have experienced spatial disorientation from which he could not recover. It resulted in the helicopter colliding with terrain (controlled flight into terrain – CFIT). The helicopter was investigated and no abnormality was identified with its operation, hence its operation was determined to be irrelevant to the accident. Probable Cause Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) due to thunderstorm activity resulting in loss of visibility. Contributory Factor/s: Inappropriate flight planning – failure to obtain relevant weather forecast prior to flight. The pilot did not have an instrument rating, which led to reduced performance and inability to fly the helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and subsequent spatial disorientation IARC Date Release Date CA 12-12a 25 July 2013 Page 1 of 27 Section/division Occurrence Investigation Form Number: CA 12-12a Telephone number: 011-545-1000 E-mail address of originator: [email protected] AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT Name of Owner/Operator : PLB Computers CC Manufacturer : Robinson Helicopters Company Model : RH44 Nationality : South African Registration Marks : ZS-PZZ Place : Nylstroom Date : 5 April 2013 Time : 1630Z All times given in this report are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and will be denoted by (Z). South African Standard Time is UTC plus 2 hours. Purpose of the Investigation : In terms of Regulation 12.03.1 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (1997) this report was compiled in the interest of the promotion of aviation safety and the reduction of the risk of aviation accidents or incidents and not to establish legal liability . Disclaimer: This report is given without prejudice to the rights of the CAA, which are reserved. 1. FACTUAL INFORMATION 1.1 History of Flight 1.1.1 On 3 April 2013 at about 1610Z the pilot, being the sole occupant on board a Robinson RH44 helicopter, was engaged in a private flight from Bela-Bela to Roedtan. After the helicopter was seen flying from Bela-Bela, it did not reach its intended destination at its estimated time of arrival (ETA); hence it was reported missing to the aeronautical rescue co-ordination centre (ARCC). The ARCC then initiated a search and rescue operation. Due to adverse weather (wind and rain) and dwindling daylight, the search and rescue operation was suspended until the next day. 1.1.2 On 4 April 2013 at about 1105Z, the search and rescue operation found the helicopter, but it had been involved in a fatal accident. The wreckage was located at the geographical position: S 24˚44.940 E028˚29.020. 1.1.3 An investigation was conducted into the pilot’s flying activities prior to the accident. During the investigation, witnesses (the pilot’s spouse and a passenger who was carried on a previous flight) were interviewed. The passenger and spouse stated the follows: CA 12-12a 25 July 2013 Page 2 of 27 (i) First Witness – The pilot’s spouse stated: During the first flight, the pilot was the sole occupant on board the Robinson RH44 helicopter. He flew the helicopter from Roedtan to Bela- Bela. The estimated time of departure from Roedtan was about 0400Z in the morning. (ii) Second Witness – The passenger stated: He was with the pilot as a passenger on board the helicopter. The pilot flew the helicopter from Bela-Bela in Limpopo Province to Schoonkloof Game Farm in Madikwe District in North West province. The purpose of the flight was to carry out a game capturing operation at the passenger’s farm. Immediately when the helicopter arrived at the farm, the pilot commenced with the operation and the passenger was on board with him. The pilot was forced to stop the operation temporarily during the afternoon at about 1200Z due to light rain. Later, at about 1230Z until 1450Z, they resumed the operation. The passenger described the prevailing weather conditions at the time as raining, visibility fine and windy but not too bad. The passenger further stated that after they had finished the game capturing operation, the pilot with him on board flew the helicopter on a private flight back to Bela-Bela. The passenger disembarked from the helicopter at Bela-Bela at about 1610Z. The passenger observed the helicopter taking off and flying in the direction of Roedtan. He indicated that the weather conditions at Bela-Bela were fine at the time of the flight. 1.1.4 Furthermore, statements were obtained from other persons regarded as witnesses who stated the following: (iii) Third Witness – The motorist stated: The motorist was driving on the N1 Freeway between Bela-Bela/Settlers off-ramp and Kromdraai Toll Gate Plaza. He was driving in the direction of Polokwane at the time. As he looked toward his left side, he briefly saw a helicopter (identified by its bright yellow colour) flying in the vicinity where he was driving. The helicopter was flying over the area of the open farm land on the western side of the N1 freeway. The time was between 1620Z and 1635Z. The helicopter was heading in a north-westerly direction, flying below the low cloud base. There was light drizzling rain at the time in the area. The motorist then focused his attention on the road and continued his journey, not knowing that moments after seeing the helicopter, the pilot was involved in an accident. CA 12-12a 25 July 2013 Page 3 of 27 Figure 1 Google Earth map showing Bela-Bela (departure – Warmbaths Airfield), Bela-Bela/Settler off-ramp, Kranskop toll gate, Nylstroom Airfield, accident site & Roedtan. N1 Freeway to Polokwane Accident Site CA 12-12a 25 July 2013 Page 4 of 27 (iv) Fourth Witness – The farmer stated; A farmer who was on the farm next to the one on which the helicopter crashed said that at about 1400Z, the weather conditions turned “bad” in the vicinity of the farm. “It was raining and the visibility was not good”. Due to the rainy weather “it was heavily overcast and getting dark”. The identified weather conditions prevailed until night-time at 1900Z. 1.2 Injuries to Persons Injuries Pilot Crew Pass. Other Fatal 1 - - - Serious - - - - Minor - - - - None - - - - 1.3 Damage to Aircraft 1.3.1 The helicopter was destroyed in the accident. Figure 2 Wreckage of the destroyed helicopter. The picture was taken on the day the helicopter was found. The presence of the clouds in the picture shows the prevailing adverse weather conditions present on that day. CA 12-12a 25 July 2013 Page 5 of 27 1.4 Other Damage 1.4.1 None. 1.5 Personnel Information 1.5.1 Pilot-in-Command (PIC): Nationality South African Gender Male Age 49 Commercial Pilot Licence Number 0270512981 Licence Type Licence (CPL) Licence valid Yes Type Endorsed Yes Night, Test Pilot Class 2, Agriculture, Undersling/Winch, Ratings Cull Ratings Medical Expiry Date 31 January 2014 Restrictions Next ECG due 2015 3 January 2004, Blouberg Mountain, downdraught, RH22 helicopter, extensive damage. 19 February 2006, Naboomspruit, engine failure on take-off, RH44 helicopter, substantial damage. Previous Accidents 20 July 2011, Hollandsdrift, engine failure in flight, RH44 helicopter, extensive damage. 6 December 2012, Rust de Winter, ground collision, RH22 helicopter, substantial damage. Flying Experience: Total Hours ± 7913,2 Total Past 90 Days ± 120,1 Total on Type Past 90 Days ± 120,1 Total on Type ± 2222,5 1.5.2 The flying experience information included in the column above was taken from the pilot’s “Annual maintenance of pilot licence validity” application dated 14 January 2013. This application was submitted to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) when the pilot was renewing his licence. The application contained the record of latest flying experience of the pilot. 1.5.3 The pilot’s experience logbook was not found during the investigation. As a result, the pilot’s exact flying experience (total number of hours flown) at the time of the accident could not be determined. The flying experience which is missing was from 14 January 2013 until the accident date. CA 12-12a 25 July 2013 Page 6 of 27 1.5.4 The pilot was engaged in a commercial game culling operation prior to the accident. Due to the operation it was considered necessary to review the pilot’s flight and duty time information for the period before and including the accident flight. However, it was not possible to determine the flight and duty time of previous days because the flight experience logbook was missing.