Bell 206-L4 accident near Anaconda, MT
On April 26, 2024, a Bell 206-L4 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Anaconda, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 26, 2024
- Place
- Anaconda, MT
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L4 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.117°N, 112.927°W
- NTSB ID
- 20240426194154
Official records · WPR24FA132
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 26, 2024, at 0659 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206-L4 helicopter, N988B, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Anaconda, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot had been conducting flights to distribute fertilizer from the same staging location for several days. The staging area was surrounded by hilly terrain. An employee of the operator, who was performing ground support duties, met the pilot at their base at Deer Lodge-City-Municipal Airport (38S), Deer Lodge, Montana, about 0545 on the day of the accident. The employee then drove a support vehicle to the staging area about 1 mile southeast of Anaconda, Montana. Onboard GPS data showed that the helicopter departed 38S about 0613 and proceeded to overfly the intended application area before proceeding to the staging area. Security camera video, taken from cameras located about 0.5 miles north of the staging area, captured the helicopter arriving and landing at the staging area at 0633. The pilot and ground crewmember then conducted a safety briefing with a customer representative. According to the representative, the wind was calm during the briefing and remained calm for several hours that morning. After the briefing, the helicopter lifted off at 0643 and maneuvered over the load truck. The helicopter departed the staging area with the first load of fertilizer about 0644, flew to the west and exited the view of the security camera. The helicopter re-entered the c
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to a loss of cooling oil to the turbine-to-compressor coupling shaft and subsequent fracture of the shaft at an altitude too low for the pilot to complete a successful autorotation. Contributing to the accident was carbon buildup in the piccolo tube screen and nozzles and the disintegration of the spur adapter gearshaft O-rings for reasons that could not be determi
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
