J10/2/7206	A00-064
	SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY ACCIDENT REPORT – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Date of Accident	3/6/2000			Time of Accident			0700Z
Aircraft Registration	ZS-RBR			Type of Aircraft			Robinson R22
Pilot-in-command Licence Type				Private			Licence Valid			Yes
Pilot-in-command Flying Experience				Total Flying Hours	3834.00		Total Hours on Type			3699.00
Type of Operation				Private
Last point of departure				Vaalwater
Next point of intended landing				Vaalwater
Location of the accident site with reference to easily defined geographical points (plus GPS readings if possible)
Field
Meteorological Information		The weather was fine, the temperature 12°C and the surface wind conditions north-easterly at 3 kt
Number of people on board		1+1	No. of people injured			Nil	No. of people killed				Nil
Synopsis
The pilot stated that after take off from Vaalwater and whilst flying in a Westerly direction, the engine suddenly stopped at approximately 1000 ft agl. He then immediately proceeded to carry out an auto-rotation and successfully re-started the engine at approximately 600 ft agl. However, shortly after, the engine stopped again and the pilot landed the helicopter on an open field. The main rotor blades made contact with the tail boom and a piece of the tail boom and tail rotor was severed from the helicopter. There were no injuries.
Probable Cause
1) The pilot carried out an auto-rotational landing onto an open field, but upon landing the main rotor made contact with the tail boom and a piece of the tail boom and tail rotor were severed from the helicopter. 2) The cause of the engine failure could not be conclusively determined.