# NTSB ERA17WA342: Robinson R44, Cape Town, South Africa, September 28, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: September 28, 2017, 10:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Cape Town, South Africa
- Coordinates: -34.113334, 18.86861 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-34.1133&lon=18.8686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17WA342
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96117/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17WA342

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44 (II)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 11309
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal; flight hours: 486 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)

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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