J10/2/7227 A00-084 SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY ACCIDENT REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Date of Accident	04/08/2000		Time of Accident				0920z
Aircraft Registration	ZS-HKP		Type of Aircraft				Bell 206B
Pilot-in-command Licence Type			Private Pilot Licence				Licence Valid		Yes
Pilot-in-command Flying Experience			Total Flying Hours		Heli 74.1 hrs Aero 2050 hrs		Total Hours on Type		Heli 14.4 hrs
Type of Operation			Private flight
Last point of departure			Farm in Witriver area
Next point of intended landing			Mine at Steelpoort
Location of the accident site with reference to easily defined geographical points (plus GPS readings if possible)
On the farm Welgevonden in the Steelpoort district (S24°46.503' E030°17.667').
Meteorological Information		Weather was fine.
Number of people on board		1 + 1		No. of people injured		Nil		No. of people killed		1 + 1
Synopsis
The pilot bought the helicopter a few weeks before the accident and completed his conversion training 4 days after he accepted the helicopter. He flew the helicopter back to Lanseria Airport in order that the turbine module of the engine could be exchanged. On the morning of the accident, the pilot/owner of the helicopter flew from his farm in the Witriver area to a mine in the Steelpoort area. A witness stated the rotor blades were rotating at a lower rate than he was used to when helicopters fly over the farm. He indicated that the helicopters flew lower than what he was used to and it appeared to him that the main rotor was losing rotational speed and nearly became stationary. All this time the helicopter was losing height and at approximately 20 m above the ground the helicopter fell almost vertically to the ground. During the investigation the compressor to turbine coupler in the engine was found fractured and different opinions were expressed as to the reason for the failure of the coupler and the engine.
Probable Cause
The engine failed during flight and the pilot was unable to execute a successful autorotation. The cause of the engine failure could not be conclusively established.