# NTSB ERA17WA191: Robinson R44, Heilbron, South Africa, May 19, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: May 19, 2017, 14:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place: Heilbron, South Africa
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95237
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17WA191
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95237/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17WA191

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Robinson R44 II helicopter that occurred on May 19, 2017. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist SACAA's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 as the State of Manufacturer and Design of the helicopter/engine.All investigative information will be released by the SACAA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: ZS-HFF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44 (II)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 12629
- Engines: Lycoming Engines reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Registered owner: Wentzel Boerdery Trust
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Departed: Bothaville
- Destination: Heilbron

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal

## Weather



From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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