Idaho Helicopters, Inc.
Also recorded as: IDAHO HELICOPTERS INC, IDAHO HELICOPTERS, INC., Idaho Helicopters, Idaho Helicopters, Inc.
Accident & enforcement record
Events that happened, regardless of the operator's own reporting. Each links to its public source.
NTSB accidents & incidents
Operated by Idaho Helicopters (per NTSB report)
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from tall brush during a low-hover pedal turn. A factor was the six foot-tall brush located adjacent to the area where the pilot was operating.
Operated by IDAHO HELICOPTERS, INC. (per NTSB report)
The pilot-in-command's not obtaining/maintaining clearance with the unmarked transmission lines. Contributing factors were environmental (dusk) conditions, the transmission lines, and both the pilot-in-command and the ground personnel not identifying the existence of the hazardous condition (high wires).
Operated by IDAHO HELICOPTERS, INC. (per NTSB report)
The pilot's improper inflight planning/decision in that he used an inadequate airspeed or an inadequate altitude, or both, for the intentional autorotation.
Operated by IDAHO HELICOPTERS (per NTSB report)
fuel contamination, due to improper servicing of the helicopter, which resulted in an intermittent loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's inadequate control of the helicopter, during autorotation with intermittent engine power.
FAA enforcement actions
Sanction: $12,500 · case closed 2013-03-20
Sanction: $2,000 · case closed 2001-02-23
Sanction: $750 · case closed 1999-05-10
Maintenance disclosure history
Service Difficulty Reports are self-reported maintenance findings. The NUMBER of reports is not a measure of reliability — diligent operators file more, not fewer. These are shown for transparency, not as a negative signal. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
Reports span 2002–2012. Most-reported systems: Electrical power (24) — 2; Main rotor drive (63) — 2; Fuel (28) — 1. Most-common natures of condition, as filed: FALSE WARNING — 1; INADEQUATE Q C; WARNING INDICATION — 1; OTHER — 1; SMOKE/FUMES/ODORS/SPARKS; FALSE WARNING — 1; WARNING INDICATION — 1.
5 reports on file.
Part: CALIPER — OUT OF ADJUST (ROTOR BRAKE) · airframe 199 hrs
MADE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING AFTER DEPARTURE, PILOT NOTICED A CAS MESSAGE "ROTOR BRAKE". THERE WERE NO ADVERSE INDICATIONS THAT THE ROTOR BRAKE HAD ACTUALLY INADVERTANTLY ENGAGED. MX INSPECTED THE ROTOR BRAKE SYS AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SENSOR THAT CALCULATES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISK AND PAD. ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Part: SCREEN — FAILED (FUEL SYSTEM)
BROKEN FUEL SCREEN MOUNTING BRACKET, DISCOVERED BY INSP WHEN INSTALLING FUEL CELL, REF ITEM 66 OF FIG 28-1003, BHT 430-MM-4, PN 222-066-624-101. THE MOUNTING BRACKET IS 2 PART AND ATTACHED TO THE SCREEN HOUSING BY SPOT WELDING, THE SPOT WELDS ON THE SECOND PAR OF THE BRACKET APPEAR TO HAVE CRACKS IN THE AREA OF THE SPOT WELDS AS WELL. THIS BRACKET AND HOUSING HOLD THE ENGINE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE IN PLACE, COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRACKET COULD ALLOW THE SUPPLY LINE INLET TO DRIFT UP IN THE FUEL CELL AND LEAD TO ENGINE FLAME OUT. PROBABLE CAUSE: DESIGN OR BAD WELD.
Part: TRANSMISSION — CONTAMINATED (MAIN ROTOR)
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION OCCURRED RESULTING IN A FLUCTUATION BETWEEN 65-80 PSI., WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. PILOT LANDED IMMEDIATELY AT HELIPAD. TWO QUARTS OF TRANSMISSION OIL WAS ADDED TO MOBIL SHC 626, CAUSING FOAMING AND THE ABOVE OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION. RE-PLACARD TRANSMISSION NEAR SIGHT GLASS IN PLAIN VIEW TO PREVENT MIXING OF OILS. DUE TO PLACARD BEING OBSTRUCTED BY NACA INLET AND FLT MANUAL WORDING. UNLESS PILOT AND/OR MECH WAS POSITIVE OF TRANS PN, IT IS EASY TO ADD WRONG TYPE OF OIL. FLUSHED TRANSMISSION TWICE AND RESERVICE WITH APPROXIMATELY 10 QUARTS OF CORRECT OIL, SYSTEM OPS NORMAL AND AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVI
Part: WIRE HARNESS — BURNED (STARTER GEN)
SERVICE ABOUT 1415 HOURS. AFTER A NORMAL START PROCEDURE AND RUN-UP A DEPARTURE WAS MADE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT, ACID SMELL WAS NOTICED. SCANNED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE IN THE GREEN THERE WERE NO CAUTION LIGHTS. MASTER CAUTION LIGHT FLASHED, TURNED OFF THE MAIN GENERATOR. PLACED THE BUS SWITCH FROM NORMAL TO MANUAL AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE TURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE FIRE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. AFTER LANDING FOUND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FROM THE GENERATOR THROUGH THE ENGINE DECK TO BE MELTED AND SMOLDERING.
Part: WIRE HARNESS — MELTED (STARTER GEN)
DEPARTED AIRPORT ABOUT 1415 HOURS. AFTER A NORMAL START PROCEDURE AND RUN-UP A DEPARTURE WAS MADE TO AIRPORT. ABOUT 10 MINUTE INTO THE FLIGHT, ACRID SMELL WAS NOTICED. SCANNED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE IN THE GREEN. THERE WERE NO CAUTION LIGHTS. ABOUT THE TIME I FINISHED MY SCAN THE MASTER CAUTION LIGHT FLASHED, TURNED OFF THE MAIN GENERATOR. PLACED THE BUS SWITCH FROM NORMAL TO MANUAL AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE TURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE FIRE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. AFTER LANDING, FOUND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FROM THE GENERATOR THROUGH THE ENGINE DECK TO BE MELTED AND SMOLDERING.
Linked aircraft
| N-number | Make / model | Year | Status | Link basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N1882 | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N205BD | BELL 205A-1 | 1971 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N205DY | BELL 205A-1 | 1978 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N205LM | BELL 205A-1 | 1974 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N206JH | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N23Y | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N3896V | PARASCENDER TECHNOLOGIES INC PARASCENDER 582 | 1997 | Valid Registration | Operator named in NTSB report |
| N429SL | BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 429 | 2010 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N606GX | — | — | Matched by certificate designator | |
| N73569 | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N753SL | BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 429 | — | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N755SL | BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 429 | 2016 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N977LF | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report |
Aircraft with earlier records under this certificate
Maintenance and accident records on this page also cover aircraft that are not in this operator's current FAA fleet list. Charter and management fleets change — owners switch management companies, sell, or export aircraft. Where the registry shows what became of a tail, it is noted below.
- N428SL — records 2012 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N431SL (BELL 430) — records 2011 · now operated by McMahon Helicopter Services, Inc.
- N1882 — records 2007 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N902SL — records 2004 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N977LF — records 1998 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N23Y — records 1996 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N3896V (PARASCENDER TECHNOLOGIES INC PARASCENDER 582) — records 1996 · registered to MEHAFFEY BILLY H (owner ≠ operator)
- N73569 — records 1986 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N206JH — records 1983 · no longer on the FAA registry