# NTSB LAX84FA032: Bell 206L-3, N38903, Grand Canyon, AZ, October 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1983, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Coordinates: 36.030132, -112.019622 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0301&lon=-112.0196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23898
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23898/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA032

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A NON-REVENUE BUSINESS FLT, THE PLT NOTED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WITH THE N1 DROPPING TO 70% RPM & THE TORQUE DECREASING TO 10%. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER & SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE GRAND CANYON. THE LANDING WAS MADE ON AN UPWARD SLOPE. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK & SEVERED THE REAR PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. AFTER LANDING, THE N1 WAS STILL AT 70% WITH THE THROTTLE FULL OPEN. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER & ENG REVEALED NO CAUSE FOR THE LOSS OF POWER. EVENTUALLY, AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENG WAS MADE, BUT STILL NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 3500 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38903](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38903-2005-05-12), registration cancelled 2005-05-12, S/N 51017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 51017
- Airframe hours: 1707
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Grand Canyon Helicopters
- Registered owner: North American Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 21, 1983, 10 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,200 total, 103 in this make and model, 7,050 as pilot in command, 293 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCN, 12 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 19831025055459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831025055459A), Oct 25, 1983: Bell 206L3, Grand Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. Reported power loss. Chopped off tail boom on autorotation landing. Engine checked normal. Severe downdrafts in area

## Other investigations on N38903 (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 DEN00LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA124), Jul 7, 2000: Bell 206L-3 (N38903), Logan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: in-flight collision with a jacket, which blew out of the helicopter because the left passenger door was not properly secured prior to takeoff. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to ensure…
- [NTSB LAX93FA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA316), Aug 8, 1993: Bell 206L3 (N38903), Tusayan, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N444CR TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR CLEARANCE FROM N38903, AND THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE OR RECOMMENDED SAFE HELIPAD DIMENSIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT…

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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