Kaman K-1200 K-Max, N40HX, fatal accident occurred on July 12, 2026, near Gunnison, Colorado

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N40HX

- History of Flight:
On July 12, 2026, at about 1604 local time, a Kaman K-1200 K-Max, N40HX, registered to Helicopter Express LLC out of Chamblee, Georgia, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in the Silver Jack Reservoir near Gunnison, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was being operated on a firefighting mission.

The FAA reported that: "Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances becoming inverted in Silver Jack Reservoir."

ADS-B data suggests the helicopter was coming in for a water pickup when the accident happened. The last ADS-B data point showed an altitude of 8,700 ft, 8 knots groundspeed, and -760 feet per minute rate. The reservoir's elevation is 8,925.6 ft.

 The local sheriff reported the accident time as ~1700. The helicopter was submerged in the water and a diving team recovered the pilot. The pilot, aged 56, was of Canadian-origin.

The K-1200 helicopter had two counterrotating, side-by-side, intermeshing rotors with two blades per rotor (for a total of four blades). The rotors were out of phase by 90° and were tilted outward to allow each blade to clear its opposing rotor hub. The two rotor systems were mounted to, and driven by, a common transmission. When viewed from above, the left rotor system turned counterclockwise, and the right rotor system turned clockwise. The two blades for each rotor system comprised a matched set that was balanced at the helicopter manufacturer’s factory; each set had an “A” blade (colored white at the tip) and a “B” blade (colored red at the tip). The K-1200 rotor system used servo-flaps to control rotor blade pitch changes. (Information from NTSB WPR20LA283 Final Report)

Figure 1: Previous water picks and firefighting location in the mountains (some of the track was hidden for easier visibility)

Figure 2: End of ADS-B exchange track

- Weather:

METAR KTEX 122155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN110 24/02 A3051 RMK AO2

METAR KTEX 122215Z AUTO 27008KT 10SM CLR 25/03 A3051 RMK AO2

METAR KMTJ 122153Z AUTO 31011G18KT 10SM CLR 37/M04 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP107 T03671039

METAR KMTJ 122253Z AUTO 31010KT 10SM CLR 37/M04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP104 T03721044

METAR KC24 122155Z AUTO 13015G20KT 5SM HZ CLR 30/M05 A3045 RMK AO2 T02971052 $

METAR KC24 122215Z AUTO 16007G15KT 5SM HZ CLR 29/M05 A3045 RMK AO2 T02941054 $