Bell 407 accident near Dallas, Texas, May 13, 2026
On May 13, 2026 at about 2:27 am local time, a 2000 Bell 407 (helicopter), registered N652AE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Dallas, Texas (Baylor Univ. Medical Center Da airport). It was a positioning flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 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
- May 13, 2026 · about 2:27 am local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Baylor Univ. Medical Center Da · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 407, built 2000 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- N652AE · registry record · serial 53412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 12, 2026, about 2127 central daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N652AE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dallas, Texas. The pilot and two-person medical crew were not injured. There was no patient onboard. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 discretionary air medical flight. The crew had transported a patient to Baylor Medical Center. Before departing from the helipad, the pilot attempted to contact the Dallas Love Field Airport tower controller to request a Class B airspace clearance. When no response was received, the pilot lifted off into a hover in attempt to gain better reception. The pilot reported subsequently hearing a “loud crack” and feeling a jolt in the pedals. The pilot landed the helicopter on the helipad and shutdown the engine. Video surveillance footage depicted the helicopter lifting off from the helipad and turning to the right. During the climb and the right turn, the helicopter drifted backward and struck the building mounted camera. The video footage ended at that point. The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor blades and tail rotor pitch change links.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,091 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 21, 2026; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Air Evac Ems INC
The flight
- Departed from: XA61 Dallas TX at 2:27 am
- Destination: GDJ Granbury TX
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KRBD, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRBD 130253Z 19003KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A3006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN26LA185.