Bell 206L-3 accident near Grand Canyon, AZ
On April 18, 2000, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Grand Canyon, AZ. 6 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 18, 2000
- Place
- Grand Canyon, AZ
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 6 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.964°N, 112.142°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20836
Official records · LAX00FA160
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 18, 2000, at 0905 hours mountain standard time, a Bell Helicopter 206L-3, N2267N, experienced a loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb from the Grand Canyon, Arizona, airport. The helicopter then collided with the ground in an open area on airport property as the pilot maneuvered to avoid wires during the subsequent autorotative descent. The on-demand air taxi flight was operated by Kenai Helicopters under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 as a local area sightseeing flight over the Grand Canyon. The helicopter was destroyed during the impact sequence. The certificated commercial pilot and five passengers suffered serious injuries; one passenger sustained minor injuries. A company VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The company director of operations noted that the duty pilots, including the accident pilot, reported for duty about 0730 and checked the weather, which had been obtained from the Prescott Auotmated Flight Service Station (AFSS) and posted on the weather board in the pilot break room. The pilots were assigned to aircraft and they began preflighting their helicopters about 0800. This was the first flight of the day for the accident helicopter. Another company pilot reported that he had been awake from 0500 and had observed snow falling until about 0700. He and the accident pilot retrieved brooms, squeegees, and brushes to clean the snow off the helicopters during their preflights. He said that about 75 percent of his preflight time was spent in removing the accumulated snow and ice of
Probable cause
A snow ingestion caused loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to remove the accumulated snow from the engine inlet area. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm while maneuvering to avoid power lines directly in his path during the autorotation necessitated by the loss of power. While the failure to maintain proper rotor rpm is l
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Browse: Arizona · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
