Section/division Occurrence Investigation Form Number: CA 12-12a AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Reference: CA18/2/3/8817 Aircraft ZS-RVB Date of Accident 5 August 2010 Time of accident 16:08:18Z Registration Type of Type of Aircraft Robinson R22 Beta II Private Operation Pilot-in-command Licence Type Private - Helicopter Age 45 Licence Valid Yes Pilot -in -command Flying Total Flying Hours 516.2 Hours on Type 516.2 Experience Last point of departure Klein Zwart Bast Farm – Northern Cape Next point of intended landing Groot Riet Farm - Northern Cape Location of the accident site with reference to easily defined geographical points (GPS readings if possible) Open deserted landscape approximately 3.7nm North of Groot Riet Farm Northern Cape at GPS coordinates: S29˚24.572 E020˚43.265 Meteorological Information Wind: 010º/04kt. Temperature: 25ºC Cloud Base: >10000 Cloud: None Number of people on board 1 + 1 No. of people injured 0 No. of people killed 2 Synopsis The pilot who was also the owner of the helicopter was accompanied by a passenger on a repositioning game culling flight from Klein Zwart Bast Farm to Groot Riet Farm in the Northern Cape when the helicopter failed to arrive at their destination at the expected time of arrival. The South African Police Service (SAPS) assisted by local farmers community initiated a search and rescue operation along the flight path track between Klein Zwart Bast farm and Groot Riet farm. The search and rescue operation continued throughout the night and the wreckage of the helicopter located the following morning of 6 August 2010 at approximately 0810Z. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and the both occupants were fatally injured. It was established during the on-site investigation, that the navigation light wiring and the strobe light electrical cable inside the tail boom was wrapped around the tail rotor drive shaft and stacked up against the flex plate assembly at the tail rotor gearbox end. The pilot, most likely, was concerned when he experienced some vibration and a noise when the wiring was being stacked against the flex plate at the tail rotor gearbox and decided to land as soon as possible. According to the GPS that was downloaded, the accident occurred at approximately 1608Z that was past sunset and at the time that the sun already disappeared below the horizon with the lack of visual reference. Observations during the on-site investigation showed that the helicopter was submitted to a very hard landing on the main landing skids during a vertical descent. The helicopter remained upright but was destroyed on impact with the level bush type terrain. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured on impact with the ground surface. Evidence showed that the engine was not running on impact with the terrain as indicated by the engine squirrel cage fan. Probable Cause /s Unsuccessful autorotational landing. Contributory factor: The pilot became disorientated due to reduced visibility conditions after sunset IARC Date Release Date CA 12-12a 23 FEBRUARY 2006 Page 1 of 37 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 : A.W.A van Wyk Manufacturer : Robinson Helicopter Company Model : R22 II Beta Nationality : South African Registration Marks : ZS-RVB Place : Approximately 3.7nm North of North Riet Farm GPS Coordinates 29˚24.572 E020˚43.265 Date : 05 August 2010 Time : 16:08:18Z 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 5 August 2010 at approximately 1600Z, the pilot who was also the owner of the helicopter, was accompanied by a passenger on a repositioning game culling flight from Klein Zwart Bast Farm at GPS coordinates S29 29.249 E20 42.900 to Groot Riet Farm at GPS coordinates S29 20.512 E20 43.332 in the Northern Cape when the helicopter failed to arrive at their destination at the expected time of arrival. 1.1.2 The South African Police Service (SAPS) at Kenhardt assisted by local farmer’s community initiated a search and rescue operation along the flight path track the helicopter was scheduled to have flown between Klein Zwart Bast farm and Groot Riet farm. The search and rescue operation continued throughout the night and the wreckage of the helicopter was located the following morning of 6 August 2010 at approximately 0810Z. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with the terrain and the both occupants fatally injured. 1.1.3 It was established during the on-site investigation, that the navigation light wiring and the strobe light electrical cable inside the tail boom was wrapped around the tail rotor drive shaft and stacked up against the flex plate assembly at the tail rotor gearbox end. It is assumed that during mid-flight, the noise and some vibration from the tail boom most probably disturbed the pilot and he decided to land immediately. CA 12-12a 25 MAY 2010 Page 2 of 37 Available evidence indicated that the engine was not running prior to impact with the terrain and also confirmed by the squirrel cage fan that was stationary on impact. 1.1.4 According to the GPS that was downloaded, the accident occurred at approximately 1608Z on 6 August 2010 that was past sunset and at the time that the sun already disappeared below the horizon with the lack of visual reference. Observations during the on-site investigation showed that the helicopter was submitted to a very hard landing on the main landing skids during a vertical descent. The helicopter remained upright but was destroyed on impact with the level bush type terrain. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured on impact with the ground surface. The collective stick was found in the fully up position that suggest that he attempted to cushion the landing just prior to the impact. 1.1.5 The location of the accident site was in an open deserted landscape at GPS coordinates S29 24.572 E20 43.265. Figure 1 shows track flown from Klein Zwart Bast to Groot Riet farm. CA 12-12a 25 MAY 2010 Page 3 of 37 View from View from right side left side Figure 2, GPS downloaded track flown up to the point of impact. 1.2 Injuries to Persons Injuries Pilot Crew Pass. Other Fatal 1 - 1 - Serious - - - - Minor - - - - None - - - - 1.3 Damage to Aircraft 1.3.1 The aircraft was destroyed during a vertical descent and hard landing with the terrain. CA 12-12a 25 MAY 2010 Page 4 of 37 Figure 3, shows the wreckage on impact during a vertical descent. 1.4 Other Damage 1.4.1 None. 1.5 Personnel Information 1.5.1 Pilot-in-command : Nationality South African Gender Male Age 45 Private-Helicopter Licence Number 0272329020 Licence Type Licence valid Yes Type Endorsed Yes Ratings Flight Test – Single Engine Piston Medical Expiry Date 30 June 2011 Restrictions Corrective Lenses Previous Accidents None 1.5.2 Flying Experience: Total Hours 516.2 Total Past 90 Days 193.1 Total on Type Past 90 Days 193.1 Total on Type 516.2 1.5.3 A “red flag” was inserted by the SACAA in the pilot file against his name regarding unauthorised owner/pilot flights transgression. The reason for the red flag was to prevent the PPL being issued if the unauthorised owner/pilot flights were not resolved. However, the red flag was removed by the SACAA Flight Operations Department and the PPL issued without any proof that the mishap had being completely resolved. 1.5.4 During the eight months from November 2009 until August 2010, the pilot recorded 113 flights and logged an amount of 423.0 hours which were predominantly for game or livestock cull operations . The pilot was not in possession of a game or livestock culling rating according to his license and did not receive specialised game or livestock culling training. 1.5.5 The pilot revalidation check or initial license skills test was due within 12 months from the date of initial issue. He was still within the initial issue period, thus not yet required to do a skills test. 1.5.6 Other Personnel : The passenger that was carried on board the helicopter was a 20 year old male who was specifically to assist the pilot in the event of ‘Game or livestock culling CA 12-12a 25 MAY 2010 Page 5 of 37 operations”. He however did not receive any game or livestock culling training. 1.5.7 Pilot’s History Information The history of the pilot’s training is included in this report as: Annexure “A”. 1.6 Aircraft Information 1.6.1 Airframe: Type Robinson R22 Beta Serial Number 4363 Manufacturer Robinson Helicopter Company Date of Manufacture 2008 Total Airframe Hours ( At time of Accident ) 647.2 Last MPI (Date & Hours) 29 July 2010 605.9 Hours since Last MPI 41.3 C of A (Issue Date) (Expiry Date) 11 March 2009 10 March 2011 C of R (Issue Date) (Present owner) 13 February 2009 Operating Categories Standard – Part 91 1.6.2 Engine: Type Lycoming O-360-J2A Serial Number L-41207-36 E Hours since New 647.2 Hours since Overhaul TBO not yet reached.