Bell 407 N21BH

Summary

On 11 July 2024 at about 23:05 local time, a Bell 407 registered N21BH, operated by Brainerd Helicopter Services Inc., was involved in an accident near Stanley, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 July 2024 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Stanley, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

44.1163, -114.9560

Aircraft

Bell 407

Registration

N21BH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Brainerd Helicopter Services Inc.

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Fire Fighting

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stanley → Stanley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA247

1 person had minor injuries.

A sudden wind shift which resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent dynamic rollover and collision into water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.