7) TERRAIN COLLISION, C-FIT

Bell 505 X | N118LG

February 20th, 2025 | Ririe, Idaho

Accident Location

  • City: Ririe
  • State: Idaho
  • Latitude: 43.57666
  • Longitude: -111.7361111
  • Airport ID:

Aircraft Info

Pilot Info

  • PIC Name: Brown, Bradford James
  • Gender: Male
  • Pilot Age: 59
  • Pilot Hours: 4200
  • Flight School: No
  • Instructional Flight: No
  • Pilot Certification: Private Pilot
  • IFR Rating: Yes
  • Pilot Error: Yes
  • Pilot Medical: 2nd Class Medical
  • Pilot Incapacitation: No

Analysis

  • Date: February 20th, 2025
  • Time: 4:40 PM Local Time
  • Day / Night: Day
  • VMC / IMC: VMC
  • Phase Of Flight: Maneuvering
  • Total People Onboard: 2
  • PIC Fatality: 1
  • PAX Fatalities: 0
  • Ground Fatalities: 0
  • Total Fatalities: 1
  • NTSB No:
  • NTSB Travel: Unknown
  • AQP Classification: 7) TERRAIN COLLISION, C-FIT

Probable Cause

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the helicopter pilot did maneuver the helicopter very low level near the reservoir for unknown reasons, whereupon the main rotor blades became entangled with an existing power line, causing the fall from about 40 feet to the frozen ice reservoir. The helicopter impacted on its side and partly broke through the ice. The pilot was killed on impact and was trapped in water below the ice level. The other occupant was injured but escaped on his own power onto the ice and was found walking on the ice at the crash scene when rescue persons arrived.

NTSB: 

Recommendation

DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all rotor wing aircraft exercise extreme caution when operating low level near fixed objects, and avoid unplanned off field random landing attempts in areas that have not been planned well in advance.

NTSB: NONE

DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.