# Accident 20251213021439A: Bell Textron Canada Ltd 505, Dilley, TX, December 13, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 13, 2025, 13:30 local time
- Place: Dilley, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.7969° N, 99.2519° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7969&lon=-99.2519&mi=10
- Aircraft: N865S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N865S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Textron Canada 505 (registry code 1182166, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-textron-canada-505) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TEXTRON CANADA LTD 505
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 801 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251213021439A

## Narrative

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

ON 13 DEC 2025, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SCHEDULED TO DEPART THE LEONA VISTA RANCH, LOCATED IN DILLEY, TX. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER BOTH REPORTED THE WEATHER AS BEING FOGGY THAT MORNING SO THEY DECIDED TO DELAY THE DEPARTURE UNTIL THE WEATHER FORECAST SHOWED THE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY HAD IMPROVED FOR A SAFE DEPARTURE FROM THE RANCH AND THE FLIGHT ALONG THE ROUTE TO THEIR DESTINATION. AT APPROXIMATELY 13:45 PM, THE PILOT PICKED UP FROM WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS PARKED AND CONTINUED CLIMBING WHILE SLOWLY NOSING FORWARD TO GAIN AIRSPEED AS HE PREPARED TO TRANSITION FROM A HIGH HOVER TO FORWARD FLIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 70-75 FEET AGL, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER BOTH REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM UP AND TO THE LEFT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT.  AT THAT POINT, THE PILOT BEGAN TO TRY AND STEER THE HELICOPTER TO THE RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PARKING LOCATION.  THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE BEGAN TO TRY AND TURN TO THE RIGHT, HE FELT A VIBRATION DEVELOP IN THE HELICOPTER CYCLIC CONTROL WHILE ALSO REALIZING HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A STABLE ATTITUDE IN ANY DIRECTION.  THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE MOTION OF THE HELICOPTER AS HAVING AN UNCONTROLLABLE NOSE UP AND DOWN PITCH. THE PILOT HAD NO FURTHER MEMORY OF THE EVENTS OF THE CRASH AS HE WAS COMING INTO AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER IMPACT.  THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED HARD ON IT'S SKIDS AND THEN CAME TO REST AFTER IT ROLLED OVER ON IT'S LEFT SIDE.  THE PASSENGER ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS SUSPENDED IN THE AIR IN HIS SEAT AFTER THE CRASH.  HE UNBUCKLED HIMSELF AND FELL ON THE PILOT BELOW HIM.  THE PASSENGER THEN EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND REMOVED THE PILOT FROM THE WRECKAGE AND CALLED FOR HELP.

## 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 CEN26LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA061), Dec 13, 2025: Bell Textron Canada 505 (N865S), Divot, TX, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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.

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