Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505 accident near Moab, Utah, October 8, 2022
On October 8, 2022 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2019 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, registered N874BB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Moab, Utah. 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 pilot’s loss of helicopter control during landing, that resulted in a dynamic roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2022 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Moab, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, built 2019 · all 505s on the register
- Registration
- N874BB · registry record · serial 65233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, he was initiating a landing to a ledge. As the landing skids contacted the ground, the pilot felt the helicopter settle tail first. Startled by this, he abruptly raised the collective, unaware that he was holding forward cyclic input. As power was applied, the rear skids lifted off the ground first, creating a nose low attitude. The helicopter subsequently rolled over onto its right side substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Dynamic rollover during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,326 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 937 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,502 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 318.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 2022; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,680 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Saffran Arrius 2R (turboshaft); 317 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7CO1 Gateway CO at 9:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KCNY, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCNY 081553Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP233 T01830039=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 13, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.