# Accident 20260204001269A: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, Libby, MT, February 4, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2026, 20:50 local time
- Place: Libby, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: CXVA
- Location: 48.3920° N, 115.5453° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3920&lon=-115.5453&mi=10
- Aircraft: N407VS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N407VS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 (registry code 1182154, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B (registry code 54585, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,327 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260204001269A

## Narrative

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

ON 2/5/2026 AT 20:15 LOCAL TIME, A BELL 407 HELICOPTER WAS CONDUCTING PART 135 EMS OPERATIONS AT THE LIBBY, MONTANA HOSPITAL. UPON APPROACH AND LANDING, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A LIGHT THAT IS PART OF THE HELIPAD LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND AND COMPLETE AN EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE OR INCIDENT. AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE ELEVATED HELIPAD LIGHT FIXTURE, A PORTION OF THE LIGHT LENS AND CASING WAS PROJECTED FROM THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACT INTO THE TAILBOOM, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM STRUCTURE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TAILBOOM.

THE PILOT REPORTED A NORMAL APPROACH TO LANDING WITH A SLIGHT FLARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE APPROACH TO ARREST FORWARD MOVEMENT BEFORE SETTING DOWN. HE STATED THAT HE FELT THE CONTACT, HEARD NOISE AND FELT VIBRATION AFTER CONTACT WITH THE LIGHT WAS MADE. HE WAS AT A LOW IN GROUND EFFECT (IGE) HOVER OVER THE CENTER OF THE HELIPAD AT THE TIME OF CONTACT, SO HE WAS ABLE TO DESCEND THE LAST 1-2’ VERY QUICKLY AFTER CONTACT WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

SAS TASK- T-NM05-FY26-0209

## 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 WPR26LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA099), Feb 5, 2026: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada BHT407 (N407VS), Libby, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light post during landing.

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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