Bell 407 accident near Stanley, Idaho, July 11, 2024
On July 11, 2024 at about 11:05 pm local time, a 1998 Bell 407 (helicopter), registered N21BH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Stanley, Idaho. It was a firefighting flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A sudden wind shift which resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent dynamic rollover and collision into water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2024 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Stanley, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 407, built 1998 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- N21BH · registry record · serial 53262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was conducting firefighting operations in a helicopter equipped with a 50-foot long-line and a 120-gallon Bambi bucket. Earlier in the day he performed 29 water pickups and returned to a nearby helibase to refuel. The pilot went back to the lake where he had performed the previous fills and completed 13 water pickups noting that the wind was increasing. He went to perform the 14th water pickup and entered a left downwind approach to the lake as he had done all day. On final approach, the helicopter encountered a wind shift, which resulted in a rapid rate of descent. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent by raising the collective which led to a settling with power event. The bucket impacted the water that resulted in a dynamic rollover and the helicopter nosed-in to the lake. The pilot stated that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- External load event (Rotorcraft) during maneuvering (hover)
- Windshear or thunderstorm during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (hover)
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover)
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,327 hours in all; 722 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 4,143 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 22, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,045.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2024; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47B (turboshaft); 6,204 hours total
- Operator: Brainerd Helicopter Services Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Stanley ID at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Stanley ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KSNT
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSNT 112251Z AUTO 34008G18KT 31/02 A3023 RMK AO1 SLP132 T03110022=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 6, 2025. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement from Helitack Superintendent | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Picture of Wreckage (Provided by US Forest Service) | PDF, 1 page | 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.