MD Helicopter 369 accident near Bultfontein, Za, June 14, 2017
On June 14, 2017 at about 10:45 am local time, a MD Helicopter 369, registered ZTRAC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Bultfontein. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2017 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Bultfontein, South Africa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopter 369 E
- Registration
- ZTRAC · no longer on the register · serial 0210 E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 14, 2017, about 1045 coordinated universal time, an MD Helicopter 369E, South African registration ZT-RAC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Bulfontein, South Africa. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under South African flight regulations. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) is investigating the accident. As the State of Manufacture and Design of the helicopter and engine, the NTSB has appointed a US Accredited Representative under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 to assist the AIID in its investigation. All inquiries concerning this accident should be directed to: South African Civil Aviation Authority Accidents and Incidents Investigation Division Private Bag X 73 Halfway House 1685 South Africa Website: http://www.caa.co.za This report is for informational purposes only. All investigative information will be released by the SACAA.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,998 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aircraft Asset Finance Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: FAWM Welkom
- Destination: FACK Christiana
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.