# NTSB CEN26LA061: Bell Textron Canada 505, N865S, Divot, TX, December 13, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: December 13, 2025, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Divot, TX
- Coordinates: 28.796944, -99.251944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7969&lon=-99.2519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Safety Board of Canada
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202167
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA061
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202167/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA061

## Preliminary report

On December 13, 2025, about 1345 central standard time, a Bell Helicopter 505, N865S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Divot, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff, a loud “bang” was heard in an area above his head. He experienced a partial loss of control as the cyclic began to shake, and the helicopter began to pitch uncommanded. During the loss of control, the helicopter was over a pond, so he maneuvered back over land for a forced landing. During the forced landing and contact with terrain, the helicopter rolled onto its left side sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system. The helicopter was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1182166), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182166), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bell Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1182166), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Bell Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1182166), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N865S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N865S), registered now, S/N 65428 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TEXTRON CANADA LTD 505
- Registry model: [Bell Textron Canada 505](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-textron-canada-505) (registry code 1182166) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 65428
- Year built: 2022
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: B&H Equipment Rental LLC
- Registered owner: B&H Equipment Rental LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: PVT

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KUVA, 36 nm away
- METAR: METAR KUVA 131955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC017 22/20 A3000 RMK AO2 T02180195

## 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 20251213021439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251213021439A), Dec 13, 2025: Bell Textron Canada Ltd 505, Dilley, TX, Substantial damage. 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…

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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