3 dead in tour helicopter crash at Grand Canyon

L A Times ^ | Feb 10, 2018

[BenLurkin]

[S]ix passengers and a pilot were on board the Papillon helicopter when it crashed about 5:20 p.m. The other four were injured and were still being treated at the scene.

...

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the Eurocopter EC130 crashed in unknown circumstances and sustained heavy damage.

[bigbob]

It seems to be a good time to stay out of helicopters.

[montag813]

Mysterious wind blows down more than 100 big trees in W. Washington

[proud American in Canada]

So sorry to hear this. My parents visited the Canyon and said it was one of the most spectacular things they had ever seen...and they traveled a lot.

Prayers for everyone and their families. Hope the survivors recover.

[sparklite2]

The chopper tour I took of the Grand Canyon had us wearing headphones so we could hear each other and the pilot.

The chopper lifted off and flew for a few minutes on the way to the canyon. Then, just as we broke over the edge and came in full view of the spectacle, the pilot sent Thus Spake Zarathustra into the headphones. Goose bump city. LOL

[JockoManning]

Most folks characterize it as having a kind of spiritual impact--as being a very spiritual place. I think that's a fair description. It is best to see it at sunrise or sunset or during a storm. Mid-day is a bit washed out in bright sun.

And no, there is NO dining car on the mule train to the bottom.

[Yosemitest]

Tours from Grand Canyon National Park

[BenLurkin]

Interesting

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Was it as bad as the airplane collision in 1956? Wonder how many still remember that! I do!

[Yosemitest]

I'd like to know more about the crash, but the information wasn't given.
It goes without saying that winds in mountainous ares and canyons can be .... DEADLY !

[proud American in Canada]

I honestly think there is something special and spiritual about the southwest.

As for the food .... no saddlebags available ? ;)

However, if I were on one of those mules, I would want it to be as comfy as possible. ;) I may have to lose some weght. LOL!

[pops88]

It was very windy here in Las Vegas and there were weather warnings. I wonder if that was a factor. My husband flew air tours of the Grand Canyon for quite a while. At one point we moved from Las Vegas to Valle, AZ, for the season. The sunsets were gorgeous. I loved it.

[TaMoDee]

I researched the weather data for the South Rim of the Canyon at the time of the incident.
Temp: 46F; Wind: West 9 mph Gusts 18 mph Sky: Clear

Normally not a problem for flying. BUT who knows what went on.

Helo’s have the glide path of a rock if the blades stop turning.

[JockoManning]

agreed!

[JockoManning]

Small twisters can crop up suddenly, however. They are not that common in any one location but they do occur. I wonder if sudden isolated downdrafts can crop up similarly.

[TaMoDee]

Well we’ll just have to wait for NTSB report is completed.
I’m betting on Mech Failure.
May God Rest Their Souls!

[JockoManning]

AMEN! AMEN!

[steve86]

Helo’s have the glide path of a rock if the blades stop turning.

When has there been an instance of the blades stopping turning? If power was lost the blade pitch would be changed to autorotation configuration.

[Yosemitest]

Mechanical failure with gusting winds in a canyon is what I suspect.
Normally if the engine fails the blades will continue to rotate with the wind moving over them.
There's a procedure called "Auto-Rotation" that for emergency landings in such a situation with a pretty steep descent rate until enough speed for the rotors to slow the helicopter for landings obtained, but landing areas in the Grand Canyon are hard to come by, especially in the inner canyon.

Helicopters Won’t Just Drop Like A Rock If The Engine Dies ( 4:27 )


Autorotation - Landing a Helicopter without Engine Power ( 3:12 )

[WASCWatch]

Could be a weight and balance issue. Maybe.