# NTSB WPR18WA160: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, Mabula, South Africa, May 1, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: May 1, 2018, 09:40 local (09:40 UTC)
- Place: Mabula, South Africa
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97380
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18WA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97380/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18WA160

## Sequence of events

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

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On May 1, 2018, at 0940 Universal Coordinated Time, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, ZS-MZS, impacted an open field for unknown reasons near Mabula, South Africa. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was being operated under the pertinent civil regulations for the Government of South Africa. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of South Africa. This report is for information purposes and contains only information released by the Government of South Africa. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: 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) Website: http://www.caa.co.za

## Aircraft

- Registration: ZS-MZS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (II)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 12180
- Engines: AVCO  LYC IO-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Registered owner: Rusma Eiendomme Cc

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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