Accident Overview
On August 10, 2001, at about 1428 mountain standard time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2 helicopter, registration N169PA, operating as Papillon 34, experienced a collision with terrain during an uncontrolled descent. The accident occurred approximately 4 miles east of Meadview, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by Papillon Airways, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 135 as an air tour flight. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a subsequent postcrash fire. The pilot and five passengers were killed, and the remaining passenger sustained serious injuries.
Flight History
The flight originated from the company terminal at McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, at about 1245. It was conducted 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 at about 1400 and then stopped at a company fueling facility at Grand Canyon West Airport (GCW). The helicopter departed the fueling facility at 1420 and was en route to LAS when the accident occurred.
Meteorological Conditions
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed.
Investigation
A full report by the National Transportation Safety Board is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2004/AAB0402.pdf.