18-May-2014
After landing, the pilot exited the running helicopter; shortly thereafter the helicopter became airborne without the pilot at the flight controls. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and rolled over. The pilot was struck by one or more of the main rotor blades and was fatally injured.... Read more
13-May-2014Source: IHST
As part of its ongoing accident analysis, the United States Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org) has categorized U.S. civil helicopter data by U.S. state for the period of 2008 through 2013. It continues to see the West and the South as ground zero for the majority of accidents. Fatal accidents, for the most part, also follow... Read more
6-May-2014Source: Grand Canyon Helicopters
Grand Canyon Helicopters, a Las Vegas-based provider of National Park tour and travel information, is reporting a significant spike in spring tour bookings and is expecting that to increase as summer approaches. “Spring travel to the Grand Canyon is really taking off,” said Keith Kravitz, owner of Grand Canyon Helicopters. “Every kind of trip is... Read more
5-Mar-2014Source: Universal Helicopters
Universal Helicopters with 6 locations in Arizona, Utah, Kansas and California is proud to announce the hiring of Alan Hall, a well-respected Director of Maintenance, with deep roots in the greater Phoenix, AZ area. With over 20 of his 24 years of aviation maintenance experience as Director of Maintenance and Manager of Quality Control, Alan’s... Read more
27-Feb-2014
Emergency landing in parking lot on night patrol... Read more
19-Feb-2014Source: Guidance Aviation
As Robinson Helicopters announces the introduction of glass instrument panels and advanced avionics for the R22, R44, and R66′s, Guidance Aviation of Prescott, Arizona and Baton Rouge, Louisiana is upgrading its fleet with Garmin G500H glass panels. “We decided a while back to invest in fleet upgrades that would better represent industry standards and provide... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: Van Horn Aviation
Van Horn Aviation recently obtained FAA Repair Station Certificate V7JR502Y, establishing its own repair station. The new Van Horn Repair (VHR) is co-located with VHA’s Tempe, Arizona, manufacturing facilities and will specialize on repairing VHA composite rotor blades. “The repair station certificate allows us to better service our customers by providing in-house repair and replacement... Read more
21-Jan-2014
Substantially damaged in landing accident... Read more
9-Jan-2014Source: Universal Helicopters
Universal Helicopters (UHI) with locations in Arizona, Utah, Kansas, and California, is proud to announce that they are in their 10th year with no incident, accident, or crashes. Dr. Gordon A Jiroux, President and CEO of UHI, stated “with safety, quality and crash free flying as our primary focus each and every day, UHI is... Read more
17-Dec-2013
Emergency landing, needed roading out from where it came down.... Read more
4-Nov-2013
Bird struck tail rotor on approach. Landed OK... Read more
24-Oct-2013Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that TriState CareFlight, an air medical transport service operating in the Southwestern United States, has reached a fleet milestone of 60,000 hours. TriState Care Flight operates a total of 40 aircraft, including 22 AW119’s and 10 AW109 Power’s. The EMS configured interiors allow for the finest patient... Read more
4-Oct-2013Source: Universal Helicopters
Universal Helicopters (UHI) with locations in Arizona, Utah, Kansas, and California, would like to announce that their annual Safety and Standardization Seminar (SSS) has received the necessary FAA approval to conduct its SSS as a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC). This FIRC was added as an additional course to UHI’S existing approved 141 course list.... Read more
25-Sep-2013
Helicopter contacted a mound of earth on landing, causing it to end up on its side. Some reports suggest the wind was gusty and may have been contributory. Two of the four POB injured and airlifted to hospital... Read more
23-Sep-2013Source: Able Aerospace
Able Aerospace Services, an MRO service and PMA parts provider, and one of the world’s largest helicopter repair facilities, has completed the company’s move to its new, larger headquarters located at Phoenix-Gateway Airport. This move to a brand new, fly-in custom-designed facility allows for additional capabilities in areas including advanced metal finishing, hydraulic repair and... Read more
21-Sep-2013
Heavy impact, post crash fire, no survivors. Two POB were pilot/owner Chad Nelson and passenger Brynne Smith. This report quotes Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office saying the debris field is a radius of half a mile.... Read more
14-Sep-2013Source: Guidance Aviation
iPads arrived for helicopter flight students in the Guidance Aviation flight training program. These iPads will be used in the cockpit as an electronic information management device. Referred to as Electronic Flight Bags, or EFBs, the iPads contain geo-referenced navigational charts and ADS-B traffic avoidance data. The helicopter flight students will also be using their... Read more
28-Aug-2013
Force landing, substantial damage – skids completely collapsed and tail boom separated. Pilot with minor injuries and five passengers uninjured... Read more
19-Aug-2013Source: Grand Canyon Helicopters
In anticipation of Labor Day weekend, Grand Canyon Helicopters, a leading information and discount-booking source for canyon air tours, announced the release of a set of new deals targeting flights from Las Vegas, NV, and Tusayan, AZ. “Labor Day is one of summer’s biggest holidays,” noted Keith Kravitz, owner of Grand Canyon Helicopters. “In most... Read more
12-Aug-2013
Lower chip detector plug was found out of the locked detent position and had slightly ?backed out? of the housing. This condition will cause a disruption of oil flow through the transmission oil pump and therefore a loss of oil pressure. Enroute from Page Municipal Airport (KPGA) to Kane County Hospital in Kanab, Utah... Read more
5-Aug-2013Source: Guidance Aviation
Guidance Aviation, a leading collegiate helicopter flight training organization with schools in Prescott, Arizona and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has added a Robinson R66 turbine helicopter to its fleet. “The R66 is powered by a Rolls Royce RR300 and will cruise at 125 kts. With significantly improved performance at high altitude, the R66 fits nicely into... Read more
25-Jun-2013
Emergecny landing after reportedly losing power. Boom separate from cabin, which ended up on its side. 3 POB to hospital... Read more
23-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Film footage shot from a helicopter is central to a new court case raised by Angela Rodriguez in Arizona – naming News Corp., Fox Entertainment Group and Fox News Network, in her submission to Maricopa County Court. Fox News Channel inadvertently broadcast live the suicide of Jo Don Romero, 33, who killed himself after an... Read more
19-Jun-2013Source: Guidance Aviation
On June 21, 2013, Arizona businesses and the helicopter industry will be represented by Guidance Aviation’s President, John Stonecipher of Prescott, Arizona, during the 50th Annual National Small Business Week in Washington D.C., an event which will be streamed live by the SBA. Stonecipher was named Arizona’s Person of The Year by the State’s SBA on May 16th. Now, Stonecipher... Read more
11-Jun-2013Source: FlightSafety International
FlightSafety is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Division, based in Phoenix, Arizona, to provide training for the Bell 407 helicopter at its Learning Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. “The selection of FlightSafety’s Bell 407 training program by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, is a clear demonstration... Read more
11-Jun-2013Source: Brightwater Partners
Brightwater Partners, LLC, is pleased to announce that Billy Mitchell has been appointed as VP of Operations at two of their portfolio companies: OAS Aircraft Support and OAS’ Alabama-based sister company, Alabama Aircraft Support (AAS). Based in Lakeside, Arizona, OAS Aircraft Support was established in 2001 with a primary focus on the support of the... Read more
8-Jun-2013
The helicopter landed hard and main blades severed the tailboom during a practice engine-out procedure. 2 crew on board, no passengers... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: American Eurocopter
Pylon Aviation, an independent aircraft company based in Chandler, Ariz., has placed an order with American Eurocopter for six new AS350 helicopters valued at $20 million. The order is for two AS350B3e aircraft and four AS350B2s. For nearly 20 years, Pylon Aviation has worked as a full-service aviation company that specializes in all aspects of... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: Gazette-Times
Guidance Aviation moves S61 training after incident takes out ILS at McMinnville. (See Full Story)... Read more
3-Jun-2013Source: Guidance Aviation
Memorial Day weekend kicked off “The Summer Sickness Series – Wakeboarding at The Point”, taking place at Antelope Point Marina, Lake Powell. Competitors took part in the first of four events with the final event taking place on August 31st, where the winner will take home $5,045.00 in cash. On Saturday, May 25, Trever Marquette,... Read more
20-May-2013Source: Guidance Aviation
John Stonecipher, President, CEO of Guidance Aviation, accepted the Arizona Small Business Administration’s Person of The Year Award from the State’s SBA CEO, Rick Murray and National SBA District Director, Robert Blaney, during the State’s SBA 20th Annual Enterprise Business Awards at the Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. Established in 1998, Stonecipher started Guidance with one... Read more
16-May-2013Source: KVOA
Pima County Search and Rescue Deputies used an unconventional method to save hikers from a bee attack Sunday. A group of five was hiking near Oro Valley when a swarm attacked. (See Full Story)... Read more
23-Apr-2013
Substantially damaged in landing accident. Although this is a tour helicopter, only two flight crew were on board, no passengers ... Read more
15-Apr-2013
We have a recent report in of an emergency landing at 10.28pm of an EMS helicopter near the junction of New River and Cross Mountain roads in New River, Arizona – northern outskirts of Phoenix. Air Methods operating for “Guardian Air”... Read more
28-Mar-2013Source: City of Prescott
Italian firm AgustaWestland has returned to Prescott to continue helicopter flight testing operations at the Prescott Municipal Airport. The flight tests will be conducted primarily on the airport’s northern runway (Runway 3L-21R) for several hours per day as well as conducting off-airport flight operations within a 25 nautical mile radius of Prescott, at altitudes above... Read more
3-Mar-2013Source: Universal Helicopters
Universal Helicopters (UHI), a leader in helicopter flight training, Night Flight Concepts (NFC), the leading provider of comprehensive night vision solutions, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s oldest and most prestigious aeronautical university and Dodge City Community College (DC3) are pleased to announce new training alliance to bring collegiate level NVG programs to the southwest.... Read more
15-Feb-2013Source: Arizona Daily Sun
Flagstaff Medical Center’s air arm is stepping in to help with search and rescue missions in northern Arizona at a time when the state Department of Public Safety’s Flagstaff-based helicopter is grounded much of the time due to budget constraints. (see full story) Editor note – the helicopter at this hospital is a Bell 407... Read more
5-Feb-2013Source: Guidance Aviation
As the economy continues to improve statewide, it was abundantly clear at the 8th Annual, Arizona Aviation Day, at the State Capitol that aviation and aerospace play major roles in the economic health of the State. Aviation’s economic impact on Arizona is astounding. A recent ADOT report finds that aviation’s economic impact statewide is $58... Read more
29-Jan-2013
Precautionary landing in park after oil pressure warning... Read more
22-Jan-2013
Emergency landing in residential area. Skids collapsed, pilot walked away. Pilot was flying from Chandler to Falcon Field in Mesa. Plenty of photos of the helicopter in happier times on this page... Read more
21-Jan-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Arizona operator Sky Blue Helicopters has ceased trading, and its website removed from the internet. The last posting on their still-active Facebook page was in February 2012 when they posted the optimistic “It’s a beautiful Friday here at Sky Blue! Gearing up for one busy weekend!!”, somewhat bizarrely just 13 days after they started their... Read more
3-Jan-2013Source: Payson Roundup
Gila County Sheriff’s Office dive teams scoured the bottom of the lake for more than a week, but found no sign of the helicopter, which splashed into the lake during a sightseeing flight out of Mesa (see full story). File photo see also the following from HeliHub.com safety data pages – 07-Dec-12 N557AC Robinson R44... Read more
7-Dec-2012
The aircraft was on a two-hour sightseeing tour when it went down in 60 feet of water only 25 minutes after taking off from Scottsdale Airpark. The pilot is identified as 62-year-old Fred Cleeves, owner of Skyblue Helicopters. The passengers were George Riedel, 64, and Julie Barba, 49.... Read more
28-Nov-2012
A lot of the repairs were “cosmetic,” he said. Many of the plastic fittings had melted and were changed out. The wiring harness from the control panel of the cockpit was changed. Fibreglass windows were replaced. The craft’s blades were changed out as well – the work cost around $250K (see full story) The story... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: UK MoD
After a gruelling month-long training package in the hot and arid deserts of Arizona, 847 Naval Air Squadron personnel, along with their Lynx Mk9A aircraft, have made the 6,000-mile (9,700km) return journey to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. Why did 847 Naval Air Squadron go all the way to the US Naval Air Facility at El... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter announced today that is has issued a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) with concurrence from the FAA for the installation of the Trakkabeam A800 Searchlight System on the AS350 B3 helicopter. The A800 searchlight, as installed, provides a compact and modern solution for law enforcement and other operators. Advantages of the Trakkabeam A800 searchlight... Read more
23-Nov-2012
Tail boom damaged in off airport landing... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Phoenix Business Journal
Boeing Co.’s play to lay off 10 percent of its Defense, Space and Security business unit management positions by the end of this year will have little impact at the company’s operations in Mesa. (see full story)... Read more
9-Nov-2012Source: KOAA
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has cited a medical helicopter pilot from Arizona for harassing wildlife after a group of hunters observed him flying his ship very low over an elk herd in a canyon southwest of Grand Junction. (see full story) Classic Lifeguard fly four Bell 407s and four fixed-wings ... Read more
31-Oct-2012Source: Conklin & de Decker
Conklin & de Decker will host their 13th Annual Aircraft Acquisition and Planning Seminar in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 5-6, 2012 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. This seminar was recently certified by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to be a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) accepted program allowing attendees to receive CAM credit for participating... Read more
27-Oct-2012
Pilot put R22 Mariner down into Lake Havasu after experiencingd unspecified mechanical problems. Mohave County Sheriff’s reported the pilot as Michael Christiansen, and his passenger as Michael Rabo. It is unclear from press reports how this helicopter sank, given it has fixed floats... Read more
19-Oct-2012
Rotor blades suffered minor damage when helicopter was on the ground... Read more
23-Sep-2012Source: Conklin & de Decker
Conklin & de Decker will host their 13th Annual Aircraft Acquisition and Planning Seminar in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 5-6, 2012 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Unique from other seminars and workshops, the Conklin & de Decker Aircraft Acquisition Planning Seminar is the only seminar that is designed to help the aircraft buyer, aircraft owner... Read more
23-Sep-2012Source: Daily Courier
AgustaWestland has had the fourth prototype AW189 based for approximately 8 weeks at Prescott Airport in Arizona. Also on the agenda during the aircraft’s nine month US tour are stops in Arlington, Texas to test for handling qualities, and Fairbanks, Alaska to do cold trials. (see full story)... Read more
20-Sep-2012
The Eurocopter AS350B3e will be introduced to the community at 10 a.m. on September 24 at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson. (see full story) File photo... Read more
14-Sep-2012Source: US DoD
Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $28,028,102 for firm-fixed-price task order #0004 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-08-D-8617) for construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The work to be performed provides for construction of a new transient universal hangar facility. The hangar... Read more
9-Sep-2012
Lost power and forced to land in a field. Main blades hit tail boom... Read more
30-Jun-2012
Helicopter crashed into river, killing all four occupants, on a flight from Sedona to Scottsdale. Wreckage located the next day. A later report from KGUN9suggested that authorities had “discovered a severed cable near the crash site and found marks on the rotor blade consistent with hitting a cable”. Fatalities were named as helicopter owner/pilot Raymond... Read more
17-Jun-2012
Autorotated into field and the boom broke off... Read more
15-Jun-2012Source: Victorville Daily Press
After 17 years at Southern California Logistics Airport, Boeing will soon move its A160T Hummingbird flight test program to Arizona (see full story)... Read more
28-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
28-May-2012Source: Conklin & de Decker
Conklin & de Decker Associates, Inc and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) are pleased to announce that they are continuing to partner again this year to offer the Commercial Operators Tax Seminar. This year’s Tax Seminar will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona on August 7-8, 2012. Unique from other tax seminars and workshops, the... Read more
25-May-2012
Helicopter was fire-bombed while parked on the helipad outside Verde Valley Medical Center. Alleged that a beer bottle filled with fuel was thrown into cockpit – photos show extensive fire damage in that area... Read more
22-May-2012Source: Dallas Airmotive
Kevin Bang has joined Dallas Airmotive, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul Group (ERO) company, as manager of its Phoenix Regional Turbine Center (RTC). Bang will be responsible for day-to-day operations at the RTC which focuses on PT6A, JT15D, M250™ repair services and, with its recent appointment, the HTF7000. “Kevin has a long history... Read more
7-May-2012Source: Arizona Republic
Article profiling BDN Aerospace Marketing -Â BDN’s three partners, Mark Bennett, Kyle Davis and Grace Nakazawa, met while working at McDonnell Douglas, where the idea to start a company arose after the company split off into MD Helicopters. (see full story)... Read more
2-May-2012
Crashed in a residential neighbourhood, both occupants hospitalised -Alan Cottrell and Ron Ponce... Read more
24-Apr-2012Source: FlightSafety
FlightSafety International announces that Jeremy Pisell has been promoted to Assistant Manager of the company’s Learning Center in Tucson, Arizona. “Our Customers and Teammates who train and work at the Tucson Learning Center will appreciate and benefit from Jeremy’s aviation experience, thorough understanding of FlightSafety’s training programs, focus on service, and ability to manage and... Read more
9-Apr-2012Source: Becker Avionics
Becker Avionics announced today that Pima County Sheriffs Department (PCSD) of Tucson, Arizona, selected the DVCS6100 digital airborne audio control panel system for its new AS350 B3e multi-mission helicopter. The aircraft delivered in mid-March during a ceremony at American Eurocopter’s Grand Prairie TX Delivery Center. During the next few months the aircraft will be outfitted... Read more
7-Apr-2012
Royal Air Force Chinook suffered unspecificed “mishap” during training exercise. It is known that Chinooks ZA671, ZA711 and ZA712 (and maybe a fourth?) are all currently based in Yuma on training work, so subject aircraft will be one of these.... Read more
27-Mar-2012Source: Embry-Riddle
President’s Safety Day is an annual event recognizing the safety record of the flight department at the Prescott campus. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President, Dr. John Johnson, attended the event on February 23, 2012, to present the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Safety. This year’s recipient was Mr. Gordon Jiroux, President and Owner of Universal... Read more
27-Mar-2012Source: Guidance Aviation
John Morgan, Yavapai College Dean of the Technical Division, has been a key figure in the development of one of the most successful and fastest growing collegiate helicopter programs in the United States. The Yavapai College Professional Helicopter Pilot Program has an enrollment of almost 100 students. Approximately 80% of these students are U.S. Military... Read more
27-Mar-2012Source: Guardian Mobility
Guardian Mobility today announced that it has appointed Vertical Aviation, of Scottsdale, AZ, as a Master Dealer for the entire Guardian product line including the Guardian 5™, the company’s unique, portable handheld satellite message terminal and theG7-FDM™ their complete, single box Flight Data Monitoring data collection and analysis solution. Vertical Aviation will be responsible for the US... Read more
27-Mar-2012Source: HAI
HAI President Matt Zuccaro and Government Affairs Vice President Ann Carroll on Thursday met with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)to discuss concerns of air tour operators, especially those who operate over Grand Canyon National Park. With Zuccaro and Carroll for the meeting were Alan Stephen and John Becker of Papillon Helicopters, and Brian Brusa of Maverick... Read more
