# Incident 20010110000039I: Bell 206L3, Verde Valley, AZ, January 10, 2001

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 10, 2001, 14:45 local time
- Place: Verde Valley, AZ
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N3893U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3893U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,665 total, 5,185 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010110000039I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN FAR PART 91 FERRY FLIGHT FROM TUCSON, AZ. TO THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL AIRPORT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. PILOT WAS CROSSING A RIDGELINE AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHEN HE OBSERVED THAT HIS FLIGHT GUIDE HAD FALLEN FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FLOOR. UPON RETRIEVING THE GUIDE, THE A/C ASSUMED A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE WHICH PLACED THE A/C CLOSE TO TREES AND TERRAIN. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN IMMEDIATE CLIMBING RECOVERY, ALTHOUGH DURING THIS RECOVERY PROCESS THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE VERTICAL FIN, AND ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. A REMOTE LANDING WAS PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF ANY DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH THE A/C WAS MAINTAINED AT FLIGHT IDLE DURING THE INSPECTION. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED AND FLIGHT WAS CONTINUED TO DESTINATION. UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION, A/C WAS SHUT DOWN AND DURING POST FLIGHT INSPECTION THE MINOR DAMAGE WAS FOUND.

## Other reports on N3893U (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19840218030739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840218030739A), Feb 18, 1984: Bell 206L3 (N3893U), Lake City, CO, Substantial damage. As helicopter lifted off pilot lost visual reference in white out and tail boom hit hill causing rollover.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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