Bell UH1H accident near Bredasdorp, Za, December 21, 2017
On December 21, 2017 at about 11:05 am local time, a Bell UH1H (helicopter), registered ZSHLI, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bredasdorp. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 1 person had minor injuries.
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
- December 21, 2017 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- Bredasdorp, South Africa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell UH1H · all UH1Hs on the register
- Registration
- ZSHLI · no longer on the register · serial 66-00789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 21, 2017, about 1105 Coordinated Universal time, a Bell UH-1H helicopter, ZS-HLI, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after liftoff from Bredasdorp fire station, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The helicopter was operated by FFA Assets under the pertinent civil regulations of the government of Africa. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the ground assistant was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the intended demonstration flight. According to a communication by a representative of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), "the aircraft got airborne from LZ to reposition as bambi bucket strop was under skid. At very low hover the aircraft began to hop…the pilot decided to take power and fly away to correct but it worsened the oscillation and he lost control and the aircraft yawed and impacted a wall and the ground." The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Africa. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Africa. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: South Africa Civil Aviation Authority Accident & Incident Investigation Division Southern Region Office P.O. Box 174 Cape Town International Airport Tel: +27 21 934 4744 Fax: +27 21 934 1326 Email: mail@caa.za Web Site: www.caa.co.za
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 control in flight during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Bredasdorp at 11:05 am
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.