CAA: Maintenance failures led to the death of pilot

 

CAPE TOWN- The death of Bees Marais, a very experienced Helicopter Pilot, came as a shock to both his family and the aviation industry.  

Marais passed away in March 2015, after what should have been a general fire-fighting mission, trying to contain a flare in the Cape Point Nature Reserve.  

He crashed after trying to make an emergency landing.  

This led to an investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).  

During this investigation the CAA found that Marais struggled to regain control, owing the loss of the tail rotor thrust, which was caused by a broken control cable.  

Further investigation into this case showed that the wear of this cable went undetected, due to maintenance staff failing to perform their daily inspection duties after 20 January 2015.  

While investigations continue by the CAA and other authorities, the helicopters are being maintained by several independent aviation maintenance organisations and have been recertified.