Bell Textron Canada LTD 505 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, March 8, 2026
On March 8, 2026 at about 4:10 am local time, a 2024 Bell Textron Canada LTD 505 (helicopter), registered N911FW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fort Worth, Texas (Fort Worth Meacham Intl airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2026 · about 4:10 am local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Fort Worth Meacham Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Textron Canada LTD 505, built 2024
- Registration
- N911FW · registry record · serial 65491
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 7, 2026, at 2210 Central daylight time, a Bell Textron 505 helicopter, N911FW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas. The pilot and crew member were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight. The pilot reported that during takeoff, as the helicopter was climbing above the trees the engine power decreased to idle power. The pilot performed a forced landing to an open grass field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. A post examination of the wreckage is pending.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,680 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: City Of Fort Worth
The flight
- Departed from: KFTW Fort Worth TX at 4:10 am
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from KFTW, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFTW 080353Z 31004KT 10SM CLR 09/07 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP193 T00890067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flig | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC26LA018.