The South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) has released its preliminary accident report on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of a medical team on a “mercy mission” and the pilot, in Winterton, KZN, the Sunday Tribune reports.
Netcare’s Bell 430 helicopter was cruising at approximately 725 feet above ground level when it started to come apart mid-air. According to the report, the 21 January crash was “not survivable” as the craft burst into flames after plummeting rapidly to the ground.
The Sacaa compiled the report, according to Civil Aviation Regulations, as part of their commitment to promote safety and reduce accidents, and without apportioning blame or liability. In compiling the interim report, Sacaa’s accident and incident investigations division led the fact-finding mission, which crash-site.
Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, a cardiothoracic surgeon; Dr Siyabonga Mahlangu; nurse Mpho Xaba; paramedic Sinjin Joshua Farrance; and pilot Mark Stoxreiter, a National Airways Corporation employee, were killed in the crash.
Investigators noted that the aircraft had a valid “certificate of airworthiness”, the operator was also properly certified and the pilot had attained a commercial pilot licence in October and it was last validated in November 2020. The flight was in accordance with regulations.
Sacaa had no safety recommendations at this stage, but that could change as their investigators continued with their probe, read the report.
Dr Richard Friedland, Netcare’s CEO, expressed appreciation for the efforts of Sacaa. “We hope that in due course the investigation may be able to answer many painful questions. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of our deceased colleagues at this difficult time as we are all still reeling from the tragedy; and are appreciative of Sacaa’s efforts to establish the cause and to make aviation safer,” he said.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/news/netcare-helicopter-crash-was-not-survivable-says-sacaa-preliminary-report-98292389-0ba5-434b-81da-a0f485203d07"]Full Sunday Tribune report (Open access)[/link]
The SACAA report is not available online