2021 Xumabee Game Ranch helicopter crash

2021 Xumabee Game Ranch helicopter crash

ZS-SBM, the helicopter involved in the accident, photographed in 2015
Accident
Date	5 March 2021 (2021-03-05)
Summary	Crashed following tail rotor collision with terrain
Site	Xumabee, Botswana 23°26′21″S25°45′06″E / 23.4393°S 25.7516°E / -23.4393; 25.7516
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Robinson R44 II
Registration	ZS-SBM
Flight origin	Matsieng Air Strip, Botswana
Destination	Xumabee Game Ranch, Botswana
Occupants	2
Passengers	1
Crew	1
Fatalities	1
Injuries	1
Survivors	1

On 5 March 2021, a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed on 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 the Professional Hunters Association and the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, who survived, and Sasa Klaas, a Botswanan musician, died while en route to hospital. ^{[1] [2]}

Aircraft

The helicopter involved in the accident was a Robinson R44 II, with registration ZS-SBM. ^[3] The helicopter was previously involved in a minor accident on 1 August 2015, that resulted in the left skid collapsing. The cause of that accident was the result of a student performing an autorotation landing with decaying rotor RPM. ^{[4] [5]}

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 (CAAB) had started to investigate the accident.^{[ citation needed ]}

According to the final report released on 6 December 2021, by the Directorate of Accident Investigation in the ministry (DAI), 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."

The DAI also identified the following contributing factors:

• The helicopter was flying at a low altitude approximately at tree-top level with limited visibility due to the lack of natural lighting (i.e. approximately 1 hour after sunset). The pilot had probably experienced spatial disorientation with the possibility of being under the influence.

• The pilot had arrived late to the ranch, compounded by his habit of flying at night with another during training at Hover Dynamics where he was also aided by street lighting and other sources of light.

• The fact that the pilot had departed late in the afternoon from the airstrip contributed to his inexperience in flying solo at night with limited visual references. ^{[6] [7]}

See also

• List of accidents and incidents involving helicopters
• List of fatalities from aviation accidents

References

1. Carter, Logan (8 March 2021). "Was Sasa Klaas Murdered?". South Africa Rich And Famous. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
2. "Botswana Mourn Sasa Klass". Botswana Youth Magazine. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
3. Staff WRITER. "The Monitor :: 'Mmamongwato' dies in a chopper crash". The Monitor. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
4. "Accident Robinson R-44 II ZS-SBM, 01 Aug 2015". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
5. "SACAA final report" (PDF). South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
6. "Accident Robinson R44 II ZS-SBM, 05 March 2021". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
7. "DAI final report" (PDF). Government of Botswana/ Directorate of Accident Investigation (DAI). Retrieved 10 February 2024.