Date:	Thursday 1 July 1999
Time:	07:30 UTC
Type:	Robinson R22 Beta
Owner/operator:	Thys Maritz
Registration:	ZS-RCX
MSN:	2330
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Location:	Lutopi Farm, Mica Area, Limpopo (at 24°10’45”S/030°46’36”E) -   South Africa
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Lutopi Farm, Mica Area, Limpopo, RSA
Destination airport:	Lutopi Farm, Mica Area, Limpopo, RSA
Investigating agency:	CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Due to excessive manoeuvring at low altitude the pilot allowed the tail rotor to made contact with a tree, causing the tail boom to fail, and crashed. According to the pilot the owner of the helicopter requested him for assistance in a game catching detail. The arrangement was that the pilot could build up flying hours in the helicopter in exchange for boarding and lodging. This arrangement commenced on 23 March 1999. The pilot held a valid license with the aircraft type endorsed to his license. The helicopter had been maintained in accordance with the approved maintenance schedule. The pilot was flying at a low altitude prior to the accident.

Probable Cause:
The pilot allowed the tail rotor to made contact with a tree, causing the tail boom to fail, and crashed. Aircraft repaired and returned to service, only to crash again on 29-08-2003

1. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.caa.co.za/Pages/Default.aspxAccidents%20and%20Incidents%20Reports/j10_2_7068.pdf#search=ZS%2DRCX]
2. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://coptercrazy.brinkster.net/search/r22show.asp?start=2301&count=50]
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20100527035338/http://www.rotorspot.nl:80/zs.htm

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

29 August 2003

ZS-RCX

0

Farm Nyatilulu in Phalaborwa Area

sub

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
29-Jun-2009 14:14	Topaz	Added
20-Feb-2012 13:42	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
23-Sep-2016 22:04	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]