THE INVISIBLE SNARE

 Synopsis SACAA On 18 March 2022, a pilot and a passenger on-board a Bell 206B helicopter with registration mark ZS-HJJ were engaged in an aerial search flight along the Crocodile River in Koedoeskop Farm, North West province. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) by day and under the provisions of Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 as amended.

- CHARLIE MARAIS

The pilot stated that one of the residents in the nearby area had asked for his assistance to go search for an individual that had gone missing along the Crocodile River. While the pilot was flying at approximately 25 feet above ground level (AGL) along the river, he spotted 'something' in the river and he momentarily looked down. However, when he looked up again, he spotted power lines in his flight path and decided to fly underneath them to avoid impact. One of the main rotor blades impacted the power lines and the pilot performed a precautionary landing. The pilot was able to land the helicopter safely without any further damage to the helicopter.

Probable cause SACAA

The pilot was flying low level and the helicopter's main rotor blade impacted a power line. The pilot performed a precautionary landing without any further damage.

Contributory factor SACAA

Lack of situational awareness.

Comments by Charlie Marais

Dagga-operations were the narcotics guys day and night job, but not necessarily using helicopters for detecting the fields where the marijuana was cultivated. There were only men and they were dressed and unshaven like drug dealers supposedly would look. Feminism was not invented yet and to be honest, no lady would have lived the way these people did.

The power line that the main rotor blade of Bell 206B ZS-HJJ impacted

Robinson R44 after impacting power lines