Helena Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Helena, Montana 59601
Saturday, August 20, 2005 7:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After taking off on Runway 27 (9,000 feet X 150 feet) and climbing to an altitude of between 100 and 150 feet above ground level, the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, which resulted in a further loss of engine rpm, prompting the pilot to make a left turn for a landing on Runway 9. The airplane touched down on the pavement near the departure end of Runway 27, bounced once and contacted the pavement a second time. The airplane then rolled about 10 to 15 feet before exiting the runway surface and impacting a grassy dirt surface, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing and the airplane nosing over, coming to rest in an inverted position. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing and nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was the ground bordering the runway pavement.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/20/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 750
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Helena
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59601
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 463624N
Event Location Longitude 1115858W
Event Location Airport Helena Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HLN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3877
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID HLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 3877
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19284
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 20 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5467F
NTSB Number SEA05LA176
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 Alon
Aircraft Model A-2A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number B-267
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Oct 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 4084
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Nickolas J. Keilman
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City East Helena
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59635
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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) Personal
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 748
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City Helena
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2005 3:44PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --