# NTSB CEN26LA065: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, N505TZ, Fort Worth, TX, December 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 19, 2025, 08:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.7484, -97.320606 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7484&lon=-97.3206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 16, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202186/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202186 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA065 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision during the approach and delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The company’s chief flight instructor reported that during a hydraulic system training maneuver, the pilot receiving instruction established too high of a sink rate, and the helicopter bounced upon touchdown. The helicopter then yawed to the right and bounced a second time before starting a slide towards the edge of the runway. The pilot receiving instruction attempted to correct by pushing the collective full down, however, the flight instructor realized that the helicopter would not come to a stop before exiting the runway and attempted to lift the helicopter back into the air. Before the helicopter could lift off, the left skid contacted the grass, the helicopter rolled to the left, and the main rotor contacted the ground. The helicopter then rolled to the right and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, tail rotor system, and tail boom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The chief flight instructor reported the accident could have been prevented if the flight instructor would have recognized the excessive rate of descent and made the necessary control inputs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N505TZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505TZ), registered now, S/N 65012, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 505 - 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: 65012 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 2280 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIUS 2R 505 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bell Training Academy - Registered owner: Bell Textron Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 9, 2025 - Airport: XS04, Bell South, runway Lane 2, 1,600 × 65 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: unknown; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,690 total, 88 in this make and model, 1,493 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KNFW, 7 nm away - METAR: KNFW 191352Z 00000KT 10SM FEW250 02/M04 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP205 T00221044 $= ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202186. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20099861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_N505TZ_121925_1100L_Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20099465&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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. --- 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.