ZS-HDM Agusta A119 Koala - Accident News Report

One person received minor scratches when a privately-owned helicopter was forced to crash land near Constantia in the Western Cape today, Dec 15 2002. The pilot, businessman David Mostert, said he was piloting the six-seater Augusta 119 Koala helicopter when he experienced a loss of power. He was accompanied by his 8-year-old daughter and a few friends when the accident occurred, said Mostert, who has 23 years flying experience. "The landing was relatively benign, and we landed in a big yard with natural bushes before climbing out of the helicopter", Mostert said. He said that the exhaust of the R20 million helicopter caused the grass to catch alight about 10 to 15 minutes after it had landed and rolled. Mostert said the fire engines that arrived on the scene could not do anything to save the helicopter because the fire hydrant in Bishopscourt apparently contained no water. Mostert said he took possession of the blue, white and red helicopter in July this year and it was the only one of its kind in the country. He said he would be "taking to the skies again".

News Sapa

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