Bell 430 crash near Bergville, South Africa

A Netcare 911 Bell 430 air ambulance (ZT-RRT) operated by National Airways Corporation broke up in flight near Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, while transporting medical equipment from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. After approximately 1.5 hours cruising at 725ft, the helicopter began spinning uncontrollably, broke apart mid-air with parts falling off, and crashed into a field. A post-crash fire destroyed the wreckage. All five on board were killed: pilot Mark Stoxreiter, anaesthetist Dr Kgopotso Mononyane, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Siyabonga Mahlangu, theatre nurse Mpho Xaba, and paramedic Sinjin Farrance. The SACAA investigation found a main rotor pitch link clevis fractured due to excessive wear of the universal bearing. Bell subsequently issued an airworthiness directive for pitch link inspections on all Bell 430s worldwide.