Bell 505 X | N118LG

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.

Probable Cause issued 10/16/2026 – 19 months after the accident: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and decision to maneuver the helicopter at a low altitude, and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from power lines.

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.