Aerospatiale AS350B accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, October 4, 2005
On October 4, 2005, a Aerospatiale AS350B (helicopter), registered N31MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Grand Canyon National Park 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and ground resonance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2005
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Grand Canyon National Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B · all AS350Bs on the register
- Registration
- N31MH · no longer on the register · serial 2141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter encountered a ground resonance event following a hard landing in gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported that the winds were from the south at 18 knots with gusts to 36 knots. He hover-taxied to the helipad for landing following a sightseeing tour and had established the helicopter in a 3-foot hover in preparation for landing. A gust of wind disrupted the helicopter and brought it to a 6-foot hover. The pilot regained control and stabilized it back in a 3-foot hover. Another gust of wind "slammed" the helicopter onto the helipad and a ground resonance event began. The pilot lifted the helicopter back into the air upon noticing the increasing vibrations. After the vibrations dissipated, the pilot set it back onto the helipad.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,790 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,933 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 2005; 92.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arial 1D1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCN Grand Canyon AZ at 4:47 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 36
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.