2008 Robinson R44 Accident at Langabalele Pass (ZS-RYR)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence On 14 December 2008, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-RYR, was operating a domestic charter flight for Dragon Peaks Park Pty (Ltd). The aircraft departed from Cleopatra Mountain Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal with the pilot and three passengers on board. The pilot reported that the helicopter joined the escarpment at Giant’s Castle and proceeded in a northerly direction. At 9,500 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), the pilot turned into Langabalele Pass at an indicated airspeed of 70 knots. The pilot believed there was sufficient reserve power to exit the pass, given the wind was from the north at approximately 15 knots. As the helicopter was about to turn out of the pass, it encountered a very strong downdraft. The pilot attempted to turn and exit the pass but determined the rate of sink was too high to execute the turn within the available height. Due to the shallow incline of the pass and the risk of not clearing the ground in a descending turn, the pilot decided to attempt a landing at the top of the pass. The aircraft skidded onto the ground in a level attitude at approximately 20 knots. Because of a 25-degree down-slope, the left skid made contact with the ground first and separated from the fuselage. The hard landing caused the main rotor blades to strike and sever the tail boom and tail rotor assembly. The helicopter came to rest approximately 3 meters beyond the initial impact point.