Robinson R22 accident near Bloemfontein, Za, March 19, 2018
On March 19, 2018 at about 8:00 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered ZSHAI, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Bloemfontein (New Tempe Airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
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
- March 19, 2018 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Bloemfontein, South Africa · New Tempe Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- ZSHAI · no longer on the register · serial 4272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during taxi defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: FATP Bloemfontein
- Destination: Bethlehem
- 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.