Robinson R44 accident near Cape Town, Za, September 28, 2017
On September 28, 2017 at about 10:00 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered ZSOSL, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Cape Town (Cape Town airport). It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. 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
- September 28, 2017 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Cape Town, South Africa · Cape Town · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- ZSOSL · no longer on the register · serial 11309
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 28, 2017, about 1000 coordinated universal time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, South African registration ZS-OSL, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an emergency autorotation near Cape Town, South Africa. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed Cape Town International Airport (FACT), Cape Town, South Africa, about 0730.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 Tel.: +27 (0) 11 545-1055/1050 +27 (0) 83 461-6277 (24 hours) E-mail:AiidInbox@caa.co.za Fax: +27 (0) 11 545 1466 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
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute defining event
Pilot
- Flight time: 486 hours in all
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FACT Cape Town at 7:30 am
- Destination: FACT Cape Town
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.