Grand Canyon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023
Friday, June 28, 1985 9:18 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A MOVIE FILMING FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER WAS ACTING AS THE CAMERA PLATFORM AND FILMING A FIXED WING AIRCRAFT DURING A STRAIGHT IN APPRAOCH TO THE AIRPORT, THE PLT OF THE HELICOPTER REQUESTED A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN AT MID FIELD TO LAND AT THE NORTH HELIPAD RAMP AREA. WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER START AN 'ABRUPT CLIMBING RIGHT TURN,' THEN YAW AS IT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON TOUCHDOWN WITH THE SLOPING GROUND AT THE NORTH AIRPORT BOUNDARY. THE PILOT STATED THEREWERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE HELICOPTER AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A 'LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS'DURING THE TURN TO THE LANDING AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 918
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GRAND CANYON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86023
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND CANYON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GCN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6606
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 920 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 6606
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1562
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 940
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28937
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2766Y
NTSB Number LAX85LA299
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B3
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B3
Aircraft Serial Number 2761
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 31 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 204
Airframe Hours 2599
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JET COPTERS, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16303 WATERMAN
Aircraft Owner City VAN NUYS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91406
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 8999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --