Eurocopter AS350-B2 N169PA
10 August 2001 · Meadview, Arizona, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 10 August 2001 at about 21:28 local time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2 registered N169PA, operated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Meadview, Arizona, United States. 7 people were on board and 6 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:28
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Meadview, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.9886, -113.9833
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350-B2
- Registration
- N169PA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Grand Canyon W → Las Vegas
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX01MA272
People
6 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of control of the helicopter for undetermined reasons.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2004/AAB0402.pdf On August 10, 2001, about 1428 mountain standard time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2 helicopter, N169PA, operating as Papillon 34, collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent about 4 miles east of Meadview, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by Papillon Airways, Inc., as an air tour flight under Code of Federal Regulations 14 (CFR) Part 135. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The pilot and five passengers were killed, and the remaining passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from the company terminal at the McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, about 1245 as a tour of the west Grand Canyon area with a planned stop at a landing site in Quartermaster Canyon. The helicopter departed the landing site about 1400 and stopped at a company fueling facility at the Grand Canyon West Airport (GCW). The helicopter departed the fueling facility at 1420 and was en route to LAS when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Eurocopter AS350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 2001 | Eurocopter AS350 B-2 | Cody, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 2002 | Eurocopter AS350-B3 | Bishop, California, United States | US Dept of Agriculture, US Forest Service | No injuries | - |
| 4 Nov 2003 | Eurocopter AS350 B3 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Native American Air Ambulance Inc | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 2004 | Eurocopter AS350 B3 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Petroleum Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2004 | Eurocopter AS350 B2 | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 2007 | Eurocopter AS350-B2 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 2001 | Watkins VELOCITY | Winslow, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Mar 2001 | Air Tractor AT-802 A | Maricopa, Arizona, United States | Sarita Aerial Contractors Inc | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 2001 | Cessna 150L | Nogales, Arizona, United States | Alpha Air | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 2001 | Cessna 172N | Show Low, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2001 | Cessna 170B | Payson, Arizona, United States | Joe F. West | No injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 2001 | Cessna 172M | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Sunbird Flight Services | No injuries | - |