Bell 206L-3 N38903

Summary

On 25 October 1983 at about 17:20 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N38903, operated by Grand Canyon Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

25 October 1983 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

36.0301, -112.0196

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N38903

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Grand Canyon Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX84FA032

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.