Bell Textron Canada LTD 505 accident near Divot, Texas, December 13, 2025
On December 13, 2025 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 2022 Bell Textron Canada LTD 505 (helicopter), registered N865S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Divot, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- December 13, 2025 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Divot, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Textron Canada LTD 505, built 2022
- Registration
- N865S · registry record · serial 65428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 13, 2025, about 1345 central standard time, a Bell Helicopter 505, N865S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Divot, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff, a loud “bang” was heard in an area above his head. He experienced a partial loss of control as the cyclic began to shake, and the helicopter began to pitch uncommanded. During the loss of control, the helicopter was over a pond, so he maneuvered back over land for a forced landing. During the forced landing and contact with terrain, the helicopter rolled onto its left side sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system. The helicopter was retained for further examination.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dynamic rollover during landing (flare/touchdown)
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,680 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: B&H Equipment Rental LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KUVA, 36 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KUVA 131955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC017 22/20 A3000 RMK AO2 T02180195
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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 CEN26LA061.