Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, September 9, 2012
On September 9, 2012 at about 6:52 pm local time, a Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, registered N5745Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Grand Canyon National Park airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during descent for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examinations and testing revealed no evidence of an anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2012 · about 6:52 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Grand Canyon National Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5745Y · registry record · serial 45531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during a maintenance release flight, he entered a simulated autorotation to check the main rotor rpm. When the pilot retarded the throttle, the engine lost power. The pilot subsequently conducted an off-airport landing. During the landing, the main rotor blade struck the tailboom, which then separated from the airframe. During postaccident engine test runs in both the airframe and a test cell, the engine ran normally. Postaccident engine examinations revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Autorotation Loss of engine power (total) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,460 hours in all; 1,415 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 3,323 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26,520 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 2012; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250C30P (turboshaft); 10,159 hours total
- Operator: Papillon Airways INC
The flight
- Departed from: GCN Grand Canyon AZ at 6:31 pm
- Destination: GCN Grand Canyon AZ
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from GCN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N5745Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.