- Date
- November 23, 2009, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Canyon, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N177PABell Helicopter Textron 206L-1
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Roll over
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Avitation Administration
- FAA report
- 20091123022279A
- Case key
- 75090
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor and pilot under instruction completed their helicopter external load training and landed the helicopter in a clear and level spot. Both pilots exited the helicopter, unhooked the external line, and verified the helicopter was clear of any skid entanglement. Both pilots reentered the helicopter. The pilot under instruction began to apply collective to lift the helicopter off the ground. As the helicopter started to come up, the left skid lifted first and the helicopter began to roll to the right. Both pilots applied full down collective and full left cyclic but the helicopter continued to roll over on its right side. The pilot stated that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the external load training portion of the flight
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor and pilot under instruction completed their helicopter external load training and landed the helicopter in a clear and level spot. Both pilots exited the helicopter, unhooked the external line, and verified the helicopter was clear of any skid entanglement. Both pilots reentered the helicopter. The pilot under instruction began to apply collective to lift the helicopter off the ground. As the helicopter started to come up, the left skid lifted first and the helicopter began to roll to the right. Both pilots applied full down collective and full left cyclic but the helicopter continued to roll over on its right side. The pilot stated that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the external load training portion of the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N177PA
- Reported as
- Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45194
- Airframe hours
- 13,806
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 250 C30P, 417 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Papillon Airways Inc
- Registered owner
- Monarch Enterprises Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · October 13, 2009
- Departed
- KGCN · Grand Canyon, AZ
- Destination
- KGCN · Grand Canyon, AZ
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 16, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,607 total · 3,917 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2009
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,772 total · 1,047 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- KGCN, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.