Bell 206 N565VA

Summary

On 27 September 2025 at about 17:30 local time, a Bell 206 registered N565VA was involved in an accident near Archer City, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 September 2025 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Archer City, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.5920, -98.7308

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N565VA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA396

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while herding livestock.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to herd livestock when the helicopter contacted a powerline which damaged the main rotor system and resulted in a loss of control. The helicopter crash-landed into a shallow ditch and came to rest on its right side. The pilot was able to egress with minor injuries before the helicopter was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.