Bell 505X accident near Londiani, Kericho, Ke, March 3, 2019
On March 3, 2019 at about 8:34 am local time, a Bell 505X (helicopter), registered N5YKDL, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Londiani, Kericho. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 5 people were 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
- March 3, 2019 · about 8:34 am local time
- Place
- Londiani, Kericho, Kenya
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 505X · all 505Xs on the register
- Registration
- N5YKDL · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 3, 2019, about 0834 local time, a Bell 505X, 5Y-KDL, collided with terrain near Londiani, Kericho, Kenya. The 1 pilot and 4 passengers were fatally injured; the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was owned and operated by KWAE Island Development Limited. The flight was operated under the pertinent civil regulations of the government of Kenya. The flight departed Central Island, Turkana, Kenya at an unknown time with a planned destination of Lobollo, Kenya. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Kenya. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Kenya. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aircraft Accident Investigation Department Ministry of Transport, Kenya Nairobi Kenya Tel.: +254 770 111 333 or +254 722 778 773 E-mail: ps@transport.go.ke, directoraai@transport.go.ke Fax: 254 2 822195 Website: www.transport.go.ke
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 enroute 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 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.