ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 272737
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| Date: | Tuesday 20 September 2011 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | ZS-PXL |
| MSN: | 11828 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2007 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Open field at Graspan National Park -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | |
| Nature: | |
| Departure airport: | Graspan National Park Northern Cape Province |
| Graspan National Park Northern Cape Province | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot accompanied by a passenger ' veterinarian flew the RH44 helicopter on a commercial game or livestock cull flight at Graspan National Park. The pilot reported that he suddenly felt a severe vibration accompanied by a grinding/growling noise from the helicopter. The pilot decided to execute an emergency landing in an open field. A hard landing followed during the emergency landing. In the process of the landing the main rotor blades struck the tail boom and severed it. The helicopter sustained substantial damage in the impact sequence. The pilot and passenger survived the occurrence without sustaining injury. Probable Cause Mechanical failure experienced during flight resulting in emergency landing followed by hard landing. Contributory Factors: Forward flex plate failed due to fatigue crack developing at bolt hole underneath the bonded washer. Fatigue crack on forward flex plate not detected during maintenance inspection. Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) limits flex plate crack detection to visual inspection.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
S.A. CAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
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