# NTSB WPR26LA099: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada BHT407, N407VS, Libby, MT, February 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 4, 2026, 20:45 local (Feb 5, 2026, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Libby, MT · Helipad- Cabinet Peaks Medical Center - Coordinates: 48.392012, -115.54532 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3920&lon=-115.5453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202398/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202398 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA099 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light post during landing. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1182154), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a routine positioning flight to a hospital helipad; a procedure he had performed multiple times previously. While maneuvering to land, he thought he was lower than normal and continued to maneuver for the landing. During the landing flare, the pilot heard a loud noise and felt a vibration but landed uneventfully. After the flight, the pilot discovered that the tail rotor had contacted a helipad light post during the landing sequence, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom and tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N407VS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N407VS), registered now, S/N 54667, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA BHT407 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-407) (registry code 1182154) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C47B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (registry code 54585, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 54667 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 2912.4 - Engines: Allison/Rolls Royce 250-C47B/8 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 135 - Operator: A L E R T Kalispell Regional Medical Center Inc, doing business as Logan Health - Registered owner: Kalispell Regional Medical Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MT28, Kalispell, MT - Destination: None, Libby, MT - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: None, Cabinet Peaks Medical Center - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2025; seat: right; flight hours: 7,327 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 6,365 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; injuries: none; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point - Other flight crew; injuries: none; remote; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: 65S, 36 nm away - METAR: METAR K65S 050435Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/02 A3042 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260204001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260204001269A), Feb 4, 2026: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, Libby, MT, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202398. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970900&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20088451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20record%20DO_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20089196&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.