Eurocopter France AS350 B2 accident near Peach Springs, Arizona, July 12, 2004
On July 12, 2004 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Eurocopter France AS350 B2 (helicopter), registered N91MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peach Springs, Arizona (Grand Canyon West airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of downwind takeoff direction and improper use of the collective control prior to reaching translational lift, which resulted in a settling with power condition and a collision with the ground. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2004 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Peach Springs, Arizona · Grand Canyon West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France AS350 B2 · all AS350 B2s on the register
- Registration
- N91MH · registry record · serial 2898
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter settled to the ground hard while in the initial takeoff sequence from a helipad for a sightseeing tour flight. The pilot reported he was departing toward the southwest. During takeoff, about 20 knots of indicated airspeed, he detected the helicopter was not climbing. He noticed the main rotor rpm was decaying; he attempted to increase the rpm by lowering the collective, which was unsuccessful. As the helicopter started to yaw to the left, the pilot unsuccessfully tried to stop the left yaw by applying right pedal. The low rotor speed warning horn activated prior to the helicopter impacting the ground. Two videotapes were recovered from the helicopter's-on-board video recording system and sent to the Safety Board vehicle recorders division for readout. The video recorder group observed the helicopter takeoff in a downwind condition, as the bushes were observed blowing in the same direction as the takeoff path. The engine was installed in a test cell and operated for over 2 hours, and it was found to meet all normal parameters and engine performance specifications.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,992.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2004; 19.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G4 Peach Springs AZ at 10:14 pm
- Destination: Las Vegas NV
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from IGM, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX04LA261.