# Accident 20091206053779A: Aerospatial AS 355F1, Grand Canyon, AZ, December 6, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 6, 2009, 11:00 local time
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: S9HA
- Location: 36.0203° N, 114.3347° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0203&lon=-114.3347&mi=10
- Aircraft: N548SA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIAL AS 355F1
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091206053779A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN FAILED TO SECURE THE LATCHES WHICH SECURE  THE LEFT HAND ENGINE COMPARTMENT DOOR. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED  LAS AIRPORT ON A  14 CFR PART 135 AIR TOUR TO THE GRAND CANYON. WHILE ENROUTE TO THE CANYON  AT APPROXIMATELY BONNELLI BAY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DOOR FLEW UP INTO THE  MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, AND ALSO DESTROYED THE ENGINE COWLING DOOR. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING TO A REMOTE SITE AND LANDED SAFELY.  OPERATOR DISPATCHED ANOTHER HELICOPTER WITH MECHANIC ONBOARD. THE PILOT AND MECHANIC ELECTED TO FLY THIS AIRCRAFT FROM IT'S PRESENT LOCATION TO BOULDER CITY AIRPORT.

## 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 WPR10LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA075), Dec 6, 2009: Aerospatiale AS 355F1 (N548SA), Temple Bar, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention during the preflight inspection.

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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