FACTUAL REPORT AVIATION

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1 NTSB ID: LAXLA3 Aircraft Registration Number: N2233F Occurrence Date: Occurrence Type: //2 Accident Most Critical Injury: Minor Investigated By: NTSB Location/Time Nearest /Place GRAND CANYON Zip Code Local Time Time Zone AZ Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Aircraft Information Summary Aircraft Manufacturer Bell Distance From Landing Facility: Model/Series 26L- Direction From Airport: Type of Aircraft Sightseeing Flight: No Narrative Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident: Air Medical Transport Flight: Medical Emergency On October, 2, about 227 hours mountain standard time, a Bell 26L-, N2233F, operated by Classic s, Page, Arizona, impacted trees and terrain near the Jacob Lake, about miles north-northwest of the Grand Canyon, Arizona. The helicopter was operated as an on-demand air taxi flight under CFR Part 35 for an aeromedical evacuation of a patient from a ground accident site. A company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and the commercial certificated pilot sustained minor injures. The flight nurse, paramedic, and passenger/patient also received minor injuries. The flight was in the process of departing with the patient, who had been seriously injured from a fall, when the accident occurred. The pilot indicated to the Coconino County Sheriff's Department that after lifting off he started to turn the helicopter into the wind. In the process, the tail rotor lost authority, and the helicopter started to spin. The pilot reported to the investigator that he lost control of the helicopter upon climbing 8 to feet above the ground when the helicopter started rotating in a clockwise direction. The pilot stated that he had applied full left pedal in an effort to stop the rotation, but his efforts were not effective. Thereafter, because there was not enough room to accelerate into the wind due to higher trees in the departure path, he reduced power. Realizing that no recovery was possible, he attempted to maintain a level attitude as the helicopter descended and impacted the nearby trees and terrain. The pilot and crewmembers stated to the Safety Board investigator that during the takeoff, the tail rotor had been between an estimated 8 to 2 feet from the nearest tree branches. No branches or vegetation were observed contacting the helicopter during the climb. The pilot stated that no annunciator lights illuminated, and no loss of engine power or rotor rpm occurred during the initial climb. In the pilot's written report of the accident, he indicated that it occurred at an elevation of 7,5 feet mean sea level. The wind condition was "light" and the temperature was about 59 degrees Fahrenheit. The Safety Board investigator calculated that the density altitude was approximately 8,85 feet. - Page

2 NTSB ID: LAXLA3 Occurrence Date: //2 Landing Facility/Approach Information Airport Name Airport ID: Airport Elevation Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width Ft. MSL Runway Surface Type: Runway Surface Condition: Type Instrument Approach: VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing Aircraft Information Aircraft Manufacturer Bell Model/Series 26L- Serial Number 5739 Airworthiness Certificate(s): Normal Landing Gear Type: Skid Homebuilt Aircraft? No Number of Seats: 5 Certified Max Gross Wt. 25 LBS Number of Engines: Engine Type: Turbo Shaft Engine Manufacturer: Allison Model/Series: 25-C3P Rated Power: 65 HP - Aircraft Inspection Information Type of Last Inspection Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time Hour 8/2 Hours 9982 Hours - Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information ELT Installed? Yes ELT Operated? Yes Owner/Operator Information Registered Aircraft Owner M & J LIESURE LTD. Operator of Aircraft CLASSIC LIFEGUARD AEROMEDICAL Operator Does Business As: CLASSIC HELICOPTERS - Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held: Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s): On-demand Air Taxi ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? No Street Address P.O. BOX 39 PAGE AZ Street Address P.O. BOX 72 PAGE AZ Operator Designator Code: JAPA Zip Code 86 Zip Code 86 Operating Certificate: Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 35: Air Taxi & Commuter Operator Certificate: Aircraft External Load Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Non-scheduled; Domestic; Passenger Only - Page 2

3 NTSB ID: LAXLA3 Occurrence Date: //2 First Pilot Information Name Date of Birth Age 37 Sex: M Seat Occupied: Right Principal Profession: Unknown Certificate Number: Certificate(s): Flight Instructor; Commercial Airplane Rating(s): Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: Instrument Rating(s): Instructor Rating(s): Type Rating/Endorsement for Accident/Incident Aircraft? No Current Biennial Flight Review? Medical Cert.: Class 2 Medical Cert. Status: Valid Medical--no waivers/lim. Date of Last Medical Exam: 2/2 - Flight Time Matrix All A/C This Make and Model Airplane Single Engine Airplane Mult-Engine Night Actual Instrument Simulated Rotorcraft Glider Lighter Than Air Total Time Pilot In Command(PIC) 3 3 Instructor Last 9 Days Last 3 Days Last 2 Hours Seatbelt Used? Yes Shoulder Harness Used? No Toxicology Performed? No Second Pilot? No Flight Plan/Itinerary Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR Departure Point Airport Identifier Departure Time Time Zone Same as Accident/Incident Location 227 Destination Airport Identifier ST GEORGE UT SGU Type of Clearance: Type of Airspace: Class G Weather Information Source of Briefing: No record of briefing Method of Briefing: - Page 3

4 NTSB ID: LAXLA3 Occurrence Date: //2 Weather Information WOF ID Observation Time Time Zone WOF Elevation WOF Distance From Accident Site Direction From Accident Site GCN Ft. MSL NM 6 Deg. Mag. Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Ft. AGL Condition of Light: Day Lowest Ceiling: Ft. AGL Visibility: SM Altimeter: 3. "Hg Temperature: 25 C Dew Point: C Wind Direction: 5 Density Altitude: 885 Ft. Wind Speed: 3 Gusts: Weather Condtions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Visibility (RVR): Ft. Visibility (RVV) SM Intensity of Precipitation: Unknown Restrictions to Visibility: Type of Precipitation: Accident Information Aircraft Damage: Substantial Aircraft Fire: Aircraft Explosion Classification: U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil - Injury Summary Matrix First Pilot Second Pilot Student Pilot Flight Instructor Check Pilot Flight Engineer Cabin Attendants Fatal Serious Minor TOTAL Other Crew 2 2 Passengers - TOTAL ABOARD - Other Ground - GRAND TOTAL - - Page

5 NTSB ID: LAXLA3 Occurrence Date: //2 Administrative Information Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) WAYNE POLLACK Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation: RICHARD NARDONE FAA WP-FSDO LAS VEGAS, NV Page 5