2021 Xumabee Game Ranch helicopter crash
On the 5th of March, 2021, a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the outskirts of Xumabee near Sojwe in Botswana. There were two people onboard the R44: The pilot, Leonard Matenje, director for Air Technology Services, treasurer of Professional Hunters Association and the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, who survived, and Sasa Klaas, a Motswana musician, who died at the scene.[1][2]
_(cropped).jpg.webp) The helicopter involved in the accident, taken in 2015 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 5, 2021 |
| Summary | Crashed following tail rotor collision with terrain |
| Site | Xumabee, Botswana 23.4393°S 25.7516°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Robinson R44 |
| Registration | ZS-SBM |
| Occupants | 2 |
| Passengers | 1 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Survivors | 1 |
Aircraft
The helicopter involved in the accident was a Robinson R44, with registration ZS-SBM.[3] The helicopter was previously involved in a minor accident the resulted in the left skid collapsing. The cause of this accident was the result of a student performing an auto-rotation landing with decaying rotor RPM.[4]
Investigation
The Ministry of Transport and Communications released a statement stating the Directorate of Accident Investigation in the ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana had started to investigate into the accident.
According to the final report released by the Directorate of Accident Investigation in the ministry, the report stated that:
"The probable cause of this occurrence was the helicopter's tail rotor colliding with terrain and leading to the helicopter's crash."
Contributing factors include:
-Flying low (i.e. at tree-top level) in a compromised visibility due to inadequate natural lighting (i.e. approximately 1 hour after sunset), with the possibility of spatial disorientation and/or substance influence.
-The pilot in command's first late arrival at the Ranch, compounded by the fact that during training at Hover Dynamics, according to documentation all his night flying was dual flying (and nothing solo), whereas he was also aided by the cosmopolitan street lighting and other sources of light as compared to Western Sand Veld.
-The fact that the PIC departed Matsieng Airstrip rather late in the afternoon of the day of the occurrence flight (i.e. Friday, 5 March 2021).[5]
See also
References
- Carter, Logan (2021-03-08). "Was Sasa Klaas Murdered?". South Africa Rich And Famous. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- "Botswana Mourn Sasa Klass". Botswana Youth Magazine. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- Staff WRITER. "The Monitor :: 'Mmamongwato' dies in a chopper crash". The Monitor. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- Ranter, Harro. "Accident Robinson R-44 II ZS-SBM, 01 Aug 2015". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
- Ranter, Harro. "Accident Robinson R44 II ZS-SBM, 05 Mar 2021". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2022-09-22.