# NTSB LAX79FA064: Bell 206B, N8533F, Grand Canyon, AZ, August 3, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 3, 1979
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ · GRAND CANYON, AZ
- Location: 36.0544° N, 112.1393° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Canyon, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0544&lon=-112.1393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134226
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA064
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA064-134226

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2775   79/8/3    GRAND CANYON,AZ     BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 2136
        TIME - 1835                    N8533F              PX-  0  0  4  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1229 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUSAYAN,AZ                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: PUMP,FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE-WEAR/PLAY
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      78
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DRSHFT SPLINES & PUMP SPLINES WORN,SUNDSTRAND 024918-104,S/N PE 3232.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8533F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8533F-2013-03-04), registration cancelled 2013-03-04, S/N 254, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790803032509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790803032509A), Aug 3, 1979: Bell 206B, Grand Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine quit en flight. Made autorotate hard landing. Defective engine-driven fuel pump. Inadequate maintenance.

## Other investigations on N8533F (2)

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 CEN11FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA053), Nov 3, 2010: Bell 206 (N8533F), Meeker, CO, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from electrical power lines during the low-altitude flight.
- [NTSB LAX98LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA139), Apr 20, 1998: Bell 206B (N8533F), Grand Canyon, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction and erratic speed control of the engine's governor, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

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.

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