Bell 47 accident near Ciudad Valles, Mx, May 25, 2018
On May 25, 2018, a Bell 47 (helicopter), registered XBOSS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Ciudad Valles. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 1 person was killed.
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2018
- Place
- Ciudad Valles, Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47 · all 47s on the register
- Registration
- XBOSS · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 25, 2018, at 0030 hours universal coordinated time, a Scotts Bell 47 helicopter, Mexican registration XB-OSS, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged.The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC). This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by or obtained from the government of Mexico. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) Secretariat of Communications and Transportation Blvd. Adolfo López Mateos 1990, piso 4 Col. Los Alpes Tlacopac, Del. Álvaro Obregón Codigo Postal 01010 México, D.F. Mexico Tel.: (55) 5001-6413 E-mail: cidaiac@sct.gob.mx
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 maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.