# NTSB CEN25LA381: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, N505GR, Fort Worth, TX, August 27, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2025, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX · Lane 3 at Bell South Airfield Heliport.
- Coordinates: 32.796442, -97.150405 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7964&lon=-97.1504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201009
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA381
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201009/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA381

## Probable cause

The manufacturer flight instructor’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and a proper descent rate during a demonstrated hover out of ground effect (HOGE) autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer flight instructor’s failure to perform corrective action during the HOGE autorotation with a power recovery in a timely manner.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The purpose of the flight with the manufacturer flight training academy was for a flight instructor to provide instruction to another flight instructor, who was a customer. About one hour into the flight at the manufacturer’s private flight training heliport, the manufacturer flight instructor was demonstrating a hover out of ground effect (HOGE) autorotation from a straight-in approach with termination on the lane. This was the first HOGE autorotation for the manufacturer flight instructor of the day. At the time of the maneuver, the manufacturer flight instructor reported the wind direction was variable, and the wind speed was light and variable with no gusting. He reported that he was late entering the HOGE autorotation due to a heliport traffic pattern restriction for noise abatement purposes. Near the end of the HOGE autorotation, with about 35 kts airspeed, he performed a small flare by pulling the nose up slightly. About 45 ft agl, he noticed the descent rate accelerated, requiring him to make a small input with the collective. He further noticed that the descent rate became excessive. About 20 ft agl he began pulling the collective to the top stop and he leveled the skids. The helicopter landed hard on the dry asphalt lane, the skids partially collapsed, and the helicopter came to rest upright on the right side of the lane with little forward motion. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The manufacturer flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The manufacturer flight training academy reported that the accident was a mismanagement of the flight controls, and the manufacturer flight instructor should have identified the situation the helicopter was in sooner and executed a power recovery to arrest the descent rate. Postaccident investigation revealed that the manufacturer flight instructor, who had been employed with the manufacturer flight training academy for nine years, did not complete the required flight risk assessment tool before the instructional flight. The estimated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 2,484 ft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505GR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505GR), registered now, S/N 65011, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 505 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-505) (registry code 1182165) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIUS-2R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2r) (registry code 60085, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 65011
- Year built: 2017
- Airframe hours: 2120
- Engines: Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2R 505 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bell Training Academy, doing business as Bell Training Academy
- Registered owner: Bell Textron Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 2025, 20.6 hours before
- Departed: 0TE2, Hurst, TX
- Destination: XS04, Fort Worth, TX
- Airport: XS04, Bell South Airfield, runway Lane 3, 1,600 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,855 total, 718 in this make and model, 5,495 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KGPM, 8 nm away
- METAR: KGPM 271755Z AUTO 11005KT 10SM BKN033 30/20 A3015 RMK AO2 T03030203 10303 20211

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250827013099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250827013099A), Aug 27, 2025: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, Hurst, TX, Substantial damage. On August 27, 2025, at approximately 1915 central daylight time, a Bell 505 had a hard landing from an autorotation training event near Bell south field…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201009. 190 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19317878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA381%20BTA%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 8 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19317007&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Accident flight ADS-B data - google earth (.kmz file) (item 3, KMZ, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19319232&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20250827_A64D29_598718267-Rel.kmz
- Accident flight ADS-B data - microsoft excel (.xlsx file) (item 4, XLSX, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19318490&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20250827_A64D29_598718267_ADSB-Rel.xlsx
- Bell training academy - additional accident information (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19330081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA381%20BTA%20Additional%20Information%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Bell training academy - accident flight video footage (.avi file) (item 6, AVI, 182 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19318971&FileExtension=avi&FileName=CEN25LA381%20Video%20Footage-Rel.avi
- Bell training academy - maneuver description guide excerpt (item 7, PDF, 7 pages, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19317858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=BTA%20MDG%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf

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.

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