Bell 206B3 accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, June 28, 1985
On June 28, 1985 at about 4:18 pm local time, a Bell 206B3 (helicopter), registered N2766Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Grand Canyon airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1985 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Grand Canyon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B3 · all 206B3s on the register
- Registration
- N2766Y · no longer on the register · serial 2761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A MOVIE FILMING FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER WAS ACTING AS THE CAMERA PLATFORM AND FILMING A FIXED WING AIRCRAFT DURING A STRAIGHT IN APPRAOCH TO THE AIRPORT, THE PLT OF THE HELICOPTER REQUESTED A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN AT MID FIELD TO LAND AT THE NORTH HELIPAD RAMP AREA. WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER START AN 'ABRUPT CLIMBING RIGHT TURN,' THEN YAW AS IT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON TOUCHDOWN WITH THE SLOPING GROUND AT THE NORTH AIRPORT BOUNDARY. THE PILOT STATED THEREWERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE HELICOPTER AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A 'LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS'DURING THE TURN TO THE LANDING AREA.
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: 2,750 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,599 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 1985; 204 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from GCN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.