Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that during a rotorcraft external load operation for firefighting, he was refilling the helicopter bucket at a lake. He stated that there had been wind gusts throughout the day and a right quartering tailwind of approximately 15 kts was present when he was refilling the bucket. He said that when another helicopter flew by his helicopter about 50-100 yds right and 150 ft above his position, he felt a push to the left. He pulled back on the cyclic control, but he could not recover the helicopter, which continued pitching to the left. The helicopter descended into the lake and sustained substantial to the main rotor blades. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA334 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 22, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Eagle, Colorado
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Kaman Aerospace Corp K-1200
- N-number
- N171PL
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2018
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 133 (external load)
- Purpose of flight
- Firefighting
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.