ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 155544
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| Date: | Tuesday 23 April 2013 |
| Time: | 07:00 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 II Raven |
| Owner/operator: | Bellrest 104 (PTY) Ltd |
| Registration: | ZS-HLS |
| MSN: | 13184 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2011 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | In the vicinity of Schoemanskloof outside Nelspruit -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Folly Farm White River, Mpumalanga |
| Grand Central - GCJ/FAGC | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot, accompanied by three passengers, took off in a Robinson R44 helicopter from Folly Farm in White River bound for Grand Central Airport. When the aircraft failed to arrive in time, attempts were made to contact the pilot but to no avail.
A search was initiated in the area of the pilot’s last known radio message – a transmission to another aircraft. The latter’s cellphone was used by the searchers to track the area.
The wreckage was found later on the same day in a valley on a private farm, Zondagskraal, alongside the R36 between Machadosdorp and Mbombela. The helicopter had been destroyed during the accident sequence and all the occupants had been killed.
According to an eyewitness on the farm, the helicopter had turned to the right and disappeared into the mist. Seconds later, he heard a loud bang, followed by the sound of the aircraft’s engine slowing down.
Probable Cause/s
1. Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)
Contributory Factor/s
1 Very poor visibility in the area of the accident
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/lowveld/lowveld-news-general?oid=7289495&sn=Detail&pid=490165&Helicopter-crashes--four-confirmed-dead
http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?56312-R44-(ZS-HLS)-Missing-(wreck-found)-Lydenburg-Area
http://www.rotorspot.nl/current/zs-c.php
ftp://168.144.30.146/ZS/zs102.htm
http://www.caa.co.za/Accidents%20and%20Incidents%20Reports/9166.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Apr-2013 07:53 | gerard57 | Added |
| 23-Apr-2013 10:17 | gerard57 | Updated [Registration, Source] |
| 24-Apr-2013 00:08 | Geno | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 06-Sep-2020 16:55 | KagurazakaHanayo | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
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