Accident Robinson R-22 ZS-DLF,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 162821
 
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Date:Sunday 22 December 2013
Time:15:00
Type:Silhouette image of generic R22 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Robinson R-22
Owner/operator:Aviation Towards Success (ATS)
Registration: ZS-DLF
MSN: 4149
Year of manufacture:2007
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Allendale Road, Waterval, Midrand -   South Africa
Phase: En route
Nature:Training
Departure airport:Grand Central Airport, Midrand, South Africa (GCJ/FAGC)
Destination airport:Grand Central Airport, Midrand, South Africa (GCJ/FAGC)
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
A pilot hired an aircraft for a navigation exercise which included routing to Johannesburg CBD and coming back to Grand Central’s Helicopter General Flying Area (HGFA). On arrival at the HGFA the pilot proceeded to descend to 2m above ground level (AGL) with the intention to hover taxi before returning to FAGC. Pilot stated that a few minutes into the hover taxi as he was trying to land, the aircraft started to descend at a higher rate than expected. He tried to recover by pulling the collective, but was unsuccessful in arresting its descent.
The aircraft impacted the ground and broke the forward part of the skids. The resultant forces then pushed the aircraft back into the air and coming back, its final impact was on its right-hand side. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the aircraft sustained damage to the tail boom, windscreen, main rotor and drive belts.

Probable Cause
Poor Technique/Airmanship
(The pilot loss of control of the helicopter which resulted at low altitude while trying to land)

Note: The South African CAA accident investigation report incorrectly lists December 22, 2013 as the date of the occurrence. Local media already reported on the accident on December 21.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

1. http://www.caa.co.za/Accidents%20and%20Incidents%20Reports/9256.pdf
2. http://helihub.com/2013/12/21/21-dec-13-robinson-r22-midrand-south-africa/
3. https://midrandreporter.co.za/101534/pilot-injured-crash-landing/
4. https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/102899/pilot-walks-away-from-crash/
5. http://www.rotorheads.org.za/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=237

Media:

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
22-Dec-2013 10:02 gerard57 Added
23-Dec-2013 14:20 Anon. Updated [Nature]
14-Sep-2014 11:47 El_serj Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator]
15-Oct-2016 18:14 Dr.John Smith Updated [Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
15-Oct-2016 18:14 Dr.John Smith Updated [Embed code, Narrative]
22-Aug-2018 22:05 Dr.John Smith Updated [Source]
22-Aug-2018 22:06 Dr.John Smith Updated [Source]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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