# NTSB WPR26FA082: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, N138DD, Kamas, UT, January 18, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: January 18, 2026, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Kamas, UT · Wolf Creek Campground - Coordinates: 40.481567, -111.03038 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4816&lon=-111.0304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Bell, Rolls-Royce Helicopter Engines, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA082 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202313/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA082 ## Preliminary report On January 18, 2026, about 1510 mountain standard time, a Bell 206L-1, N138DD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kamas, Utah. The pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot of the 206L-1, he and another pilot planned to fly their respective helicopters to a mountain lodge for lunch. The other pilot was operating a Robinson R66 helicopter with two passengers onboard. Preliminary ADS-B data retrieved from a commercially available third-party source showed the 206L-1 departing from Skypark Airport (BTF), Bountiful, Utah about 1236. The pilots proceeded to Daniels Summit Lodge, Heber, Utah, where they arrived about 1300 and remained until about 1450. After departing the lodge, the flight-of-two proceeded to Wolf Creek Summit. The R66 pilot stated he landed first in a large snow-covered area when they arrived at Wolf Creek Summit. According to the 206L-1 pilot, he prepared to land by conducting a power check and determined that the wind was light, and the helicopter had adequate power. The 206L-1 pilot then landed about 100 ft behind the R66. Upon touchdown, the skids teetered aft, so he brought the helicopter to a hover, then increased power to depart. While about 150 ft above ground level and above effective translational lift, the helicopter began to rotate clockwise about its vertical axis despite full application of left anti-torque pedal and lowering the collective. The helicopter impacted trees and descended to the snow-covered terrain. Multiple videos, captured by witnesses near the accident site, recorded the helicopter in the air, rotating about its vertical axis before it impacted trees and descended to the ground. Postaccident examination revealed the helicopter came to rest on its left side on soft snow, surrounded by trees of about 40 to 50 ft in height, at an elevation of about 9,450 ft mean sea level. All major components remained on or near the main wreckage. The tailboom separated from the fuselage. The aft end of the tailboom, that included the tail rotor gearbox and tail rotor assembly, separated from the tailboom. One tail rotor blade was about 50 ft from the main wreckage. The other tail rotor blade was not recovered. At least one main rotor blade fractured into multiple sections, while the other was partially buried in the soft snow. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1182107), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N138DD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N138DD), registered now, S/N 45199, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45199 - Year built: 1979 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: BTF, Bountiful, UT ## Weather - Wind: 310° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KSLC, 46 nm away - METAR: METAR KSLC 182154Z 31004KT 10SM SCT250 08/M06 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP239 T00781061 $ ## 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 20260118001169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260118001169A), Jan 18, 2026: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, Hanna, UT, Substantial damage. On January 18, 2026, the subject aircraft departed btf with a PIC calculated 83 gallons of fuel and four souls on board (~650LBS) with an intended destination… 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.