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7 fatalities

Aerospatiale AS350BA Helicopter Crashes into Canyon Wall Near Grand Canyon West Airport (N270SH)

Grandcanyonwest, AZ, US

On September 20, 2003, an Aerospatiale AS350BA (registration N270SH) was involved in an aviation accident near Grandcanyonwest, AZ. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's disregard of safe flying procedures and misjudgment of the helicopter's proximity to terrain, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a canyon wall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

On September 20, 2003, an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter operated by Sundance Helicopters, Inc., struck a canyon wall during a sightseeing flight near Grand Canyon West Airport, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and fatalities among the pilot and six passengers.

Accident Overview

On September 20, 2003, at approximately 1238 mountain standard time, an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter, registration N270SH, operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an air tour sightseeing flight, crashed into a canyon wall while maneuvering through Descent Canyon. The accident occurred about 1.5 nautical miles east of Grand Canyon West Airport (1G4) in Arizona. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The pilot and all six passengers on board sustained fatal injuries.

Flight Details

The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) in visual meteorological conditions, with a company flight plan filed. The helicopter departed from a helipad at Grand Canyon West Airport (elevation 4,775 feet mean sea level) near the upper rim of the Grand Canyon. The destination was a helipad designated "the Beach" (elevation 1,300 feet mean sea level) located next to the Colorado River at the floor of the Grand Canyon.

Aircraft and Operator

The accident aircraft was an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter, operated by Sundance Helicopters, Inc. The nature of the flight was an air tour sightseeing operation.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident. The full report is available as Aircraft Accident Brief NTSB/AAB-07/03. The probable cause of the accident was not stated in the available information.

Controlled flight into terrain

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Sept 2003 Aerospatiale AS350BA accident near Grandcanyonwest, AZ?

On September 20, 2003, an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter operated by Sundance Helicopters, Inc., struck a canyon wall during a sightseeing flight near Grand Canyon West Airport, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and fatalities among the pilot and six passengers.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Sept 2003 Aerospatiale AS350BA accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 7 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Sept 2003 involved an Aerospatiale AS350BA, registration N270SH, at Grandcanyonwest, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's disregard of safe flying procedures and misjudgment of the helicopter's proximity to terrain, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a canyon wall. Contributing to the accident was the failure of Sundance Helicopters and the Federal Aviation Administration to provide adequate surveillance of…

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20031001X01630. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.