Helicopter crashes near Valle, Arizona

Photo courtesy of Coconino County Sheriff's Office

Injured pilot made 911 call advising he had crashed west of Valle Airport  

Flagstaff, AZ - A helicopter crashed about four miles west of the Valle, AZ airport injuring the pilot who was the sole occupant.

At approximately 8:37 a.m., the pilot of a Bell UH-1H Huey helicopter made a 911 call to the Flagstaff/Coconino County 911 Communications Center advising he had crashed after experiencing a mechanical failure in the helicopter he was flying. The pilot, identified as 57 year old Jeff Boatman of Glendale, AZ, reported the transmission had failed and he was in the process of trying to land the helicopter when the crash occurred.  Boatman told the dispatcher his approximate location and that he was injured and pinned inside the wreckage.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies, Coconino County Search and Rescue, Tusayan Fire District, ground and air units from Guardian Medical Transport, and Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue responded to the scene.  Tusayan Fire units arrived on scene by ground and provided aid to Boatman.  Boatman was stabilized and transported to Flagstaff Medical Center by the Guardian helicopter.

The Bell helicopter that crashed is owned by Aero Leasing of Glendale, AZ and operated by Airwest also of Glendale, AZ.  Airwest provides contract services to the Havasupai Tribe.

Initial information indicates Boatman had just taken off from the Valle, AZ airport with a destination of the Hilltop area just above Havasupai Falls.  Reports from first responders are that Boatman suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.