# NTSB LAX02LA178: Bell 206L-1, N1075S, Meadview, AZ, May 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 2002, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Meadview, AZ - Coordinates: 35.980041, -114.060218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9800&lon=-114.0602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54792/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54792 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA178 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain distance and altitude during landing approach, resulting in the helicopter striking the ground during approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - distance/altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 2002, approximately 1045 mountain standard time, a Bell 206L-1, N1075S, registered to Monarch Enterprises, Inc., of Kirkland, Washington, and operated by Papillon Airways, Inc., doing business as Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, of Meadview, Arizona, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while on landing approach in the Grand Canyon approximately 15 miles east of Meadview. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the positioning flight being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at a nearby landing zone approximately 1120. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the accident occurred on the third flight of the day. The helicopter had been operating as a nonscheduled domestic passenger flight. "Papon 10" transported three passengers to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and returned. Two more passengers were then transported to the bottom of the Canyon, and the original three passengers boarded and were brought back. The helicopter returned to get the other two passengers. On its landing approach, the helicopter struck a hillside, bounced on its skids for 60 feet and cartwheeled, coming to rest on its left side. The pilot was able to evacuate the helicopter on his own. When the inspector later interviewed the pilot at the hospital, he had no recollection as to what had happened. He said that prior to impact, the helicopter was operating normally. The FAA inspector said he found no evidence of mechanical malfunction. Several witnesses submitted written statements. 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. The helicopter then 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. The company's loader reported that the tail boom struck "a small incline of a hill." The witness added that there was no change in the engine or rotor sounds. The pilot was involved in a similar accident on December 7, 2000, near Henderson, Nevada, (LAX01-L-A061). According to the FAA inspector who was aboard the helicopter and monitoring a check ride being administered to the pilot, he misjudged his height above the ground during a pinnacle approach and collided with terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1075S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1075S-2011-08-25), registration cancelled 2011-08-25, S/N 45366, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 43566 - Airframe hours: 22603 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Papillon Airways, Inc., doing business as Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters - Registered owner: Monarch Enterprises, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 9, 2002, 55 hours before - Departed: 1G4, Grand Canyon, AZ - Destination: NONE - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,200 total, 966 in this make and model, 6,100 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: IGM, 60 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020528011409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020528011409A), May 28, 2002: Bell 206L1, Wixom, MI, No damage. (-23) On 05/28/02 aircraft N1075S collided with the terrain prior to landing at the grand canyon area known as the ramada. Visual inspection of the area… ## Other investigations on N1075S (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 LAX81FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA131), Sep 22, 1981: Bell 206L-1 (N1075S), Waialae Falls, HI, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54792. 622 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.