Accident Overview
On February 20, 2025, at about 1640 mountain standard time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505 (registration N118LG) was substantially damaged in an accident near Ririe, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Details
According to the passenger, he and the pilot departed Rexburg-Madison County Airport (RXE) in Rexburg, Idaho, with the intention of overflying the Ririe Reservoir area to record video of a large herd of elk. The passenger was seated in a rear seat and secured by a harness, while the pilot occupied the front right seat. The passenger stated that neither he nor the pilot observed power distribution lines spanning the frozen lake until the helicopter was immediately in front of them. The pilot attempted to dive underneath the lines, but the main rotor blades struck them, and the helicopter subsequently impacted the frozen reservoir. The passenger reported that he exited the helicopter unassisted, and the engine continued running after the accident before shutting down on its own.
Witness Account
A witness near the reservoir reported watching two helicopters, one white and one black. He saw the black helicopter traveling from the area near the dam from north to south. He lost sight of the black helicopter, then heard a “twang sound and a bang.” He drove his snowmobile to a position where he could see the black helicopter on the frozen reservoir.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter came to rest on the frozen lake on a heading of about 195° magnetic at an elevation of approximately 5,100 ft mean sea level. All major components remained attached to the helicopter except for the main rotor blades, which were widely dispersed around the main wreckage. A set of five power distribution lines (two upper static lines and three lower phase lines) was located about 230 ft north of the main wreckage. These power lines, known as the Swan Valley to Goshen Line, spanned the reservoir in an east-west direction and were about 160 ft above ground level. The top two static lines were equipped with orange visibility marker balls. One of the three lower phase lines was fractured and was found on the frozen reservoir. The wreckage was retained for further examination.