Bell 206L-1 N1075S

Summary

On 28 May 2002 at about 17:45 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N1075S, operated by Papillon Airways, Inc., was involved in an accident near Meadview, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 May 2002 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Meadview, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

35.9800, -114.0602

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N1075S

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Papillon Airways, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Canyon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA178

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain distance and altitude during landing approach, resulting in the helicopter striking the ground during approach.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that prior to impact, the helicopter was operating normally but he could not recall details. One witness said the helicopter descended along the canyon wall at an altitude of 40 to 50 feet, and slowed its descent as it made a course reversal towards the landing zone. The nose "dipped," then rose, and the tail boom struck the ground and separated, and the helicopter began to "spin out of control." Another witness saw the helicopter "twisting in a horizontal plane, i.e. the tail swinging from side to side" just before impact. A third witness, a helicopter pilot, said the wind was light and variable as he heard rotor blade "slap," and knew the helicopter was in a turn. He then heard the sound of impact. According to the company's loader, there was no change in the engine or rotor sounds prior to the tailboom striking "a small incline of a hill." Postaccident examination disclosed no evidence of mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.