Bell 206L1 N444CR
8 August 1993 · Tusayan, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 8 August 1993 at about 00:03 local time, a Bell 206L1 registered N444CR, operated by Papillon Airways, Inc., was involved in an accident near Tusayan, Arizona, United States. 14 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, 9 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:03
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tusayan, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Tusayan Heliport
- Coordinates
- 36.0304, -112.0190
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L1
- Registration
- N444CR
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Papillon Airways, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX93FA316
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N444CR TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR CLEARANCE FROM N38903, AND THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE OR RECOMMENDED SAFE HELIPAD DIMENSIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE ROTATING BLADES OF THE PARKED HELICOPTER, N38903.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF N444CR HAD RETURNED TO THE COMPANY HELIPORT AFTER A TOUR FLIGHT, AND WAS CLEARED BY THE COMPANY CONTROL TOWER TO HOVER TAXI PAST A COMPANY HELICOPTER, N38903. N38903 HAD BEEN ADVISED TO HOLD FOR INBOUND N444CR, AND WAS LOADED WITH ROTORS AT MAXIMUM RPM AND FLAT PITCH. THE PILOT OF N444CR STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS ABEAM OF N38903, A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT HIM AND HE MESHED ROTORS WITH THE STANDING N38903. NO UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA WAS REPORTED BY EITHER THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER STATION OR OTHER TOUR PILOTS AT THE HELIPORT. THE HELIPORT WAS OPERATING 5 HELIPADS, EACH WITH LESS THAN THE FAA RECOMMENDED MINIMUM SAFE DIMENSIONS BETWEEN NEIGHBORING PADS. THE TAXI ROUTE THAT N444CR HAD TO TAKE WAS BETWEEN A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND THE PAD WHERE N38903 WAS HOLDING. MEASUREMENTS SHOWED THAT N444CR HAD A 7-FT CLEARANCE BETWEEN ITS MAIN ROTOR AND BOTH THE FENCE AND N38903.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell 206L1 206L1 | N444CR | Papillon Airways, Inc. | Destroyed |
| Bell 206L3 206L3 | N38903 | Papillon Airways, Inc. | Destroyed |
Other Bell 206L1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 2002 | Bell 206L1 | Albany, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 2003 | Bell 206L1 | Paris, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Dec 1982 | Bell 206L1 | Gulf of Mexico | Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Nov 2004 | Bell 206L1 | Sapulpa, Oklahoma, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Dec 2005 | Bell 206L1 | Cantagallo, Ecuador | Aeromasters Airways | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1981 | Bell 206L1 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Industrial HEL | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 1993 | Piper PA-23-150 | Eloy, Arizona, United States | R.finkenbine & R. Kestler | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1993 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Buckeye, Arizona, United States | LOU ANN Behringer | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 May 1993 | Mooney M20J | Sedona, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Apr 1993 | Beechcraft 58 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | JAY M. Supkoff | Fatal | 2 |
| 3 Dec 1993 | Braegger GL NIEUPORT 17 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Michael K. Braegger | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1993 | Cessna 182Q | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Denver Air Center | No injuries | - |