# NTSB WPR13CA206: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, N2072M, Grand Canyon, AZ, April 23, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 23, 2013, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Grand Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 35.855278, -112.075553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8553&lon=-112.0756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Bell Helicopter - NTSB case key (mKey): 86705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86705/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86705 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA206 ## Probable cause The failure of the flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction to recognize before entering the flare that the wind had shifted to a tailwind and terminate the practice autorotation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that she and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing autorotations. During an autorotation involving a right 180-degree turn, the flight instructor announced that the throttle was coming on, and then announced when full throttle was on. The pilot then started to level the helicopter. Because the wind had shifted to a tailwind during the maneuver, the pilot was forced to flare harder and use more cyclic control than expected. The flight instructor realized that completing a power recovery from the autorotation was going to result in an overtorque condition, took over control, and landed the helicopter. During the landing, the tailboom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, she and her student pilot were practicing autorotations. During a right turn 180- degree autorotation, the flight instructor announced that the throttle was coming on, and then when full throttle was on. The student then started to level the helicopter. As the wind had shifted during the maneuver, the student was forced to flare harder and utilize increased cyclic control. The flight instructor subsequently took control of the helicopter in order to prevent an engine over-torque and landed the helicopter. During the landing, the tail boom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2072M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2072M), registered now, S/N 45720, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 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: 45720 - Airframe hours: 30147 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250C30P turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Papillon Airways Inc - Registered owner: Monarch Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 2013 - Departed: KGN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Destination: KGN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GCN, Grand Canyon National Park ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 2,967 total, 1,107 in this make and model, 2,890 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 1,416 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 292° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -15 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: GCN, 7 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 20130423009709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130423009709A), Apr 23, 2013: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, Grand Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. Papillon helicopters a part 135 air tour operator was conducting a training flight under part 91. The accident occurred 14 miles east of the Grand Canyon… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86705. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.