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Parents of Helitour Crash Victim Receive $100 Million

Airbus, Papillon agree to nine-figure settlement in 2018 Grand Canyon helitour accident

© Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters 

By MARK HUBER • Contributor - Rotorcraft

January 10, 2024

A Nevada judge has approved a $100 million settlement for the parents of a passenger killed from injuries resulting from a Feb. 10, 2018 Grand Canyon helitour crash. Jonathan Udall sustained burns to more than 90 percent of his body and died in the hospital 12 days after the accident.

The Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters Airbus EC130B4 crashed in rugged terrain near Quartermaster Canyon in the Hualapai Nation in Arizona, three miles east of the Grand Canyon West Airport. All seven aboard survived the initial impact, but three of the six passengers aboard died in the post-crash fire, and another two later died of burn-related injuries. The pilot and one passenger survived.

According to the NTSB, the probable cause of the accident was “a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, the pilot’s loss of helicopter control, and collision with terrain during approach to land in gusting, tailwind conditions in an area of potential downdrafts and turbulence.” Winds at the accident site were forecasted at up to 55 mph, high enough to delay extraction and transport of the survivors into early the next morning.  

Under the settlement terms, Airbus Helicopters will pay $75 million and helicopter operator Papillon will contribute $24.6 million.