Helena Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Helena, Montana 59601
Sunday, October 13, 2002 17:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that the airplane touched down on runway 09. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane swerved to the right and began to porpoise. The pilot stated she wasn't able to correct the situation and elected to perform a go-around (aborted landing). While performing the maneuver, the airplane collided with a radio tower. At the time of the accident winds were from 260 degrees at 6 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower during an aborted landing. Factors include landing with a tailwind and a tower.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Helena
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59601
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 463625N
Event Location Longitude 1115858W
Event Location Airport HELENA REGIONAL
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 0.18
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 3874
Weather Briefing Completeness Abbreviated
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KHLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 3874
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13019
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 17 2003 10:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8752
NTSB Number SEA03LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bellanca
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 469-73
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 20 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 58
Airframe Hours 1901
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Margo Brooke
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Helena
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59601
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Cornelia Ballou
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Helena
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59601
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code HLN
Departure City Helena
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 9 2003 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 090
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --