# Accident 20240426004349A: Bell 206-L4, Anaconda, MT, April 26, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2024, 06:59 local time
- Place: Anaconda, MT
- Airport: Deer Lodge
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: H0NG
- Location: 46.1167° N, 112.9266° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1167&lon=-112.9266&mi=10
- Aircraft: N988B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N988B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206-L4 (registry code 1182110, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250 20&30 series (registry code 54584, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-20-30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L4
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250 20&30 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,252 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240426004349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 26, 2024, AT 0659 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206-L4, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR ANACONDA, MONTANA. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. SECURITY CAMERA VIDEO, TAKEN FROM CAMERAS LOCATED ABOUT 0.5 MILES NORTH OF THE STAGING AREA, CAPTURED THE HELICOPTER ARRIVING AND LANDING AT THE STAGING AREA AT 0633. THE SECURITY VIDEO INDICATES

THE PILOT AND GROUND CREW MEMBER THEN CONDUCTED A SAFETY BRIEFING WITH A CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE. ACCORDING TO THE REPRESENTATIVE, THE WIND WAS CALM DURING THE BRIEFING AND REMAINED CALM FOR SEVERAL HOURS THAT MORNING. AFTER THE BRIEFING THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF AT 0643 AND MANEUVERED OVER THE LOAD TRUCK. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED THE STAGING AREA WITH THE FIRST LOAD OF FERTILIZER AT 0644, FLEW TO THE WEST AND EXITED THE VIEW OF THE SECURITY CAMERA. THE HELICOPTER RE-ENTERED THE CAMERA'S FIELD OF VIEW FROM THE WEST, FLEW PAST THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STAGING AREA, TURNED TO A NORTHWEST HEADING AS IT APPROACHED THE LOAD TRUCK BEFORE COMPLETING A SECOND ONLOAD OF FERTILIZER. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED THE STAGING AREA THE SECOND TIME AT 0650, FLEW OUT OF THE FIELD OF VIEW TO THE WEST, AND RETURNED INTO VIEW FROM THE WEST AT 0656. THE HELICOPTER APPROACHED THE LOAD TRUCK A THIRD TIME HEADING TO THE NORTHWEST, FLYING A SIMILAR APPROACH AS BEFORE. THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO HOVER OVER OR NEAR THE LOAD TRUCK FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND THEN TURN AND FLY AWAY IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. THE HELICOPTER REAPPROACHED THE LOAD TRUCK AND APPEARED TO COMPLETE A THIRD ONLOAD OF FERTILIZER. THE HELICOPTER THEN DEPARTED AND CLIMBED TO THE WEST. THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO ACCELERATE AND CLIMB OUT NORMALLY TO ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. ABOUT 20 SECONDS AFTER DEPARTING THE LOAD TRUCK THE HELICOPTER ROTATED ABOUT 180° TO THE LEFT AND DESCENDED RAPIDLY IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE UNTIL IT WENT OUT OF VIEW BEHIND TERRAIN. THERE ARE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.

THE HELICOPTER WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE AND SENT TO ANOTHER FACILITY FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR24FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA132), Apr 26, 2024: Bell 206-L4 (N988B), Anaconda, MT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to a loss of cooling oil to the turbine-to-compressor coupling shaft and subsequent fracture of the shaft at an altitude too low for the pilot to complete a…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.