# Accident 20051003022499A: Snias AS350B, Grand Canyon, AZ, October 3, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2005, 17:10 local time
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Airport: Grand Canyon National Park
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: Q2KA
- Location: 33.6293° N, 112.0907° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6293&lon=-112.0907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31MH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1D1
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,790 total, 240 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06CA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051003022499A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS SETTING THE HELICOPTER DOWN ON A PAD WITH A GUSTING TAILWIND. A GUST OF WIND APPARENTLY FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO SUDDENLY IMPACT HARD ON THE RIGHT FRONT SKID. GROUND RESONANCE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AND THE HELICOPTER SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM AND RIGHT SKID.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX06CA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA003), Oct 4, 2005: Aerospatiale AS350B (N31MH), Grand Canyon, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and ground resonance.

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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