ERA17WA342

NTSB accident investigation · Robinson R44 · Cape Town, South Africa · September 28, 2017

Accident · FatalForeign investigation
Date
September 28, 2017, 10:00 local (10:00 UTC)
Place
Cape Town, South Africa
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
ZS-OSLRobinson R44
Defining event
Enroute: Miscellaneous/other
Weather
Visual (VMC)
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Lead agency
Other
Case key
96117

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Factual narrative

On September 28, 2017, about 1000 coordinated universal time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, South African registration ZS-OSL, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an emergency autorotation near Cape Town, South Africa. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed Cape Town International Airport (FACT), Cape Town, South Africa, about 0730.The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) is investigating the accident. As the State of Manufacture and Design of the helicopter and engine, the NTSB has appointed a US Accredited Representative under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 to assist the AIID in its investigation. All inquiries concerning this accident should be directed to: South African Civil Aviation Authority Accidents and Incidents Investigation Division Private Bag X 73 Halfway House 1685 South Africa Tel.: +27 (0) 11 545-1055/1050 +27 (0) 83 461-6277 (24 hours) E-mail:AiidInbox@caa.co.za Fax: +27 (0) 11 545 1466 Website: http://www.caa.co.za This report is for informational purposes only. All investigative information will be released by the SACAA.

Aircraft

Registration
ZS-OSL
Reported as
Robinson R44 (II)
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
11309
Engine
Avco Lycoming O-540, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Non-U.S., non-commercial
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
FACT · Cape Town
Destination
FACT · Cape Town
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
FACT · Cape Town
Equipment
Unknown

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Injuries
Fatal
Flight hours
486 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC)