Here is some more food for thought.
Helicopter crashes near Grand Canyon, killing all seven on board
By Beth Defalco, Associated Press, 9/21/2003 20:13
PHOENIX (AP) Recovery crews hiked into the Grand Canyon on Sunday to reach the remains of a tour helicopter that crashed with seven people aboard, including at least four international tourists. Authorities said there were no survivors.
The helicopter went down Saturday afternoon in the western reaches of the Grand Canyon. It was flying tourists to a helipad along the Colorado River, where they were to board a pontoon boat, said Jim Granquist, CEO of Las Vegas-based Sundance Helicopters Inc., which operated the aircraft.
The helicopter burst into flames upon impact, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.
The French-made Aerospatiale helicopter had taken off from the Grand Canyon West Airport, near Peach Springs, Ariz., with the pilot and six passengers aboard, FAA officials said. Passengers flew by plane from Las Vegas to board the helicopter.
Two of the passengers were Japanese citizens and at least two others were German tourists, said Carlos Rooks, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. He said the pilot was also Japanese. According to the Japanese consulate in Los Angeles, the pilot was a Japanese citizen who was a permanent legal resident of the United States.
Neither authorities nor Granquist would release identities of the victims pending family notification.
Rooks said recovery crews had to hike to the crash site Sunday because the terrain was only accessible by foot. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA were among the agencies investigating.
Three NTSB investigators were to fly over the crash site Sunday and begin hiking to the scene Monday morning, said Terry Williams, an NTSB spokesman.
Williams had no information on Sunday as to the cause of the crash or any information about any previous incidents involving the helicopter.
Granquist said that to his knowledge the helicopter had no record of mechanical problems. He said it was the first fatal accident involving a Sundance helicopter.
''It takes a chunk out of your heart,'' Granquist said.
The tour is offered in a section of the Grand Canyon where the Hualapai Indian Reservation is located.
The accident was the second deadliest canyon tour crash since 1995, when a plane went down while trying to return to Grand Canyon Airport, killing eight people.
It followed by two years an August 2001 crash in the same general area of a sightseeing helicopter owned by Papillon Airways and Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Six people aboard that helicopter were killed. A federal report said it didn't appear the helicopter suffered mechanical failure before it slammed into steep cliffs.
Other recent helicopter crashes near the Grand Canyon include:
May 2003, a Grand Canyon tour helicopter crashed about 15 miles east of Meadview, not far from Sunday's crash site, injuring the pilot. No one else was on board. That helicopter was also owned and operated by Papillon. The sightseeing helicopter crashed in a remote desert area under unknown circumstances.
September 2002: A Las Vegas-based sightseeing helicopter crashed near the Grand Canyon. A Dutch tourist's leg was broken, but five other passengers and the pilot were unharmed. A preliminary federal report blamed hydraulic failure for the crash.
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No cause given yet for the crash. Six pax in an Areospatiale indicates an overgross situation to me and may have been the cause or a contributing factor. A word of warning to all who might consider a helicopter tour into the Grand Canyon (or anywhere else).
These FAA Part 135 companies, just like any business, are out to make a profit. Helicopter maintenance costs per flying hour are the biggest threat to their bottom line. Safety procedures and inspections are stringent but not fool/greed proof. Environmental conditions in and around the canyon are tricky, especially on (high performance)takeoffs and (steep)approaches. It's challenging flying, even without passengers on board.
The Aerospatiale is a reliable aircraft with a good, overall safety record. If you are determined to take one of these tours, please do your homework in advance. Check companies safety records and any FAA violations (can be done over the internet). Try to arrange your flight when atmospheric and environmental conditions in the canyon area are at their calmest (usually early to mid morning or sometimes late afternoon).
DO NOT get on an aircraft that has more passengers than seats, or in situations where a combination of passenger weights makes it seem likely that the aircraft will lose performance and lift capability. ASK why the aircraft load is the way it is and WALK AWAY if you don't get a satisfactory explanation. Make other arrangements. This is your and possibly your family's life your dealing with.
If you are touring with a group of four or more (ie..family members) I highly encourage that you split up tours with Parents/kids. Plan your loads with the worst case scenario in mind. One parent with one child, etc... Take some water, food an a small flashlight with you just in case you are faced with a forced landing. Remember, you're in the desert. There are first aid kits and fire extinguishers on board these aircraft per FAA regulations. Know where they are at when you first get seated and become familiar with how they detach. You won't have time to figure it out in an emergency.
If you don't see these items on the aircraft, ask the pilot where they are. If the pilot can't produce them, WALK AWAY. This is indicative of an unsafe operation. Know how to operate the emergency exit (windows). If you do have a forced landing or survivable crash, don't exit the aircraft until the rotor blades stop turning or until instructed to evacuate by the pilot. The exception to this is if there's a post crash fire. You'll just have to get out the best way you can and take your chances.
Decide where you and your party will meet when you leave the aircraft. Usually, the safest place is off the nose of the aircraft, but that may be impossible due to terrain or aircraft position. If you crash on a slope, exit on the downhill side if the rotors are turning. STAY AWAY from the tail rotor! If you don't receive a thorough safety brief before boarding with these topics discussed, ask for one. If you don't get one, WALK AWAY.
Understand the inherent risks with helicopter flights, especially in high altitude, hot conditions. Thin, hot air is not the helicopter's friend. Have fun, but be informed ahead of time and be prepared for a worst case scenario.
