Missoula Int'l Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Missoula, Montana 59802
Sunday, June 26, 1988 13:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A CHECK AIRMAN AND A COMMERCIAL PLT WERE PERFORMING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. DURING CLIMBOUT AFTER A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO AND LIGHT WARNING ACTIVATED. BOTH PILOTS VERIFIED AN ACTUAL ENGINE OUT AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON SOFT TERRAIN WITH SOME FORWARD MOVEMENT AND LOW ROTOR RPM. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVERED IT. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION SUPERVISED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MISSOULA
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59802
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MISSOULA INT'L
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MSO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3201
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 941
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36950
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2754A
NTSB Number DEN88LA137
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B3
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B3
Aircraft Serial Number 2647
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 3068
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MINUTEMAN AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5225 HIGHWAY 10W BOX 16
Aircraft Owner City MISSOULA
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MINUTEMAN AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5225 HIGHWAY 10 W BOX 16
Operator City MISSOULA
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59802
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MSO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MSO
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --