Helena Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Helena, Montana 59601
Thursday, July 27, 2000 20:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was landing the tail wheel equipped aircraft on a dry paved runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft began to drift left of runway centerline. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, however, the aircraft ground looped. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/2000
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City HELENA
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59601
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport HELENA REGIONAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HLN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3874
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2041 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 3874
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 4
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 6263
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 887
NTSB Notification Source FAA-REGIONAL OPS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1415B
NTSB Number SEA00LA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Root
Aircraft Model SHERPA
Aircraft Series Identifier SHERPA
Aircraft Serial Number 0012
Certified Max Gross Weight 5000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 1450
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BYRON L. ROOT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13000 SE MOUNTAIN GATE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97236
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SPB
Departure City SCAPPOOSE
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 11000
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --