Valle Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Canyon, Arizona 86046
Tuesady, November 15, 2011 8:37 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On November 15, 2011, at 0837 mountain standard time, a restricted category Williams Helicopter Corporation, UH-1H, N502AW, experienced a loss of power, made a hard landing, and came to rest on its right side about 3 miles northwest of the Valle Airport (40G), Grand Canyon, Arizona. The pilot operated the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that was departing at the time of the accident. The flight was destined for Hualapai Hilltop, Supai, Arizona. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator that he was flying about 500 feet above ground level (agl), approximately 1/4 mile from power lines, when the Master Caution warning came on that was tripped by the "transmission low oil pressure." He made an immediate left turn away from power lines and set up an approach to land the helicopter. The pilot stated that at as the helicopter descended, at altitudes of 50 feet and 30 feet agl, the helicopter yawed approximately 30 degrees to the left and right. About 10 feet agl, and almost zero airspeed, the main rotor speed slowed and then stopped. The helicopter fell the remaining distance to ground impact. The pilot cut himself out of his seatbelt, crawled out of the helicopter, and called 911 from his cell phone.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/15/2011
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 837
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Grand Canyon
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86046
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 354238N
Event Location Longitude 1121249W
Event Location Airport Valle Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 40G
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5999
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 23 2011 2:43PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N502AW
NTSB Number WPR12LA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WILLIAMS HELICOPTER CORP
Aircraft Model UH-1H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 69-15340
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 15
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name AERO LEASING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 24017 N 55TH AVE
Aircraft Owner City GLENDALE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85310-3730
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Airwest Helicopters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GLENDALE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85310-3730
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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 No
Departure Airport Code 40G
Departure City Grand Canyon
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Supai
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 23 2011 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --