What happened
On February 20, 2025, at approximately 1640 mountain standard time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, registration N118LG, was involved in an accident near Ririe, Idaho. The flight, operated under Part 91 for personal use, departed Rexburg-Madison County Airport (RXE) with the intention of filming a herd of elk near the Ririe Reservoir.
According to the passenger, the crew did not observe power distribution lines spanning the frozen lake until the aircraft was directly in front of them. In an attempt to fly underneath the lines, the pilot struck them with the main rotor blades, causing the helicopter to impact the frozen reservoir. The passenger, who was seated in the rear, sustained serious injuries and was able to exit the aircraft unassisted. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
A witness near the reservoir reported seeing a black helicopter traveling north to south before hearing a loud sound and seeing the aircraft on the frozen lake.
The investigation
Investigation of the accident site showed the wreckage resting on the frozen lake at an elevation of approximately 5,100 feet MSL. While most major components remained attached to the airframe, the main rotor blades were widely dispersed around the site.
Five power distribution lines, part of the Swan Valley to Goshen Line, were located approximately 230 feet north of the main wreckage. These lines, which ran east to west at about 160 feet above ground level, included two upper static lines equipped with orange visibility markers and three lower phase lines. One of the lower phase lines was found fractured on the frozen reservoir.