# Accident 20070912022719A: Cessna 172L, Helena, MT, September 12, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2007, 18:10 local time
- Place: Helena, MT
- Airport: Helena Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.6067° N, 111.9828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6067&lon=-111.9828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7221Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7221Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172L (registry code 2072432, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,900 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070912022719A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 AT 1810 MDT A CESSNA 172L N7221Q REGISTERED TO SLEEPING GIANT FLYING CLUB WAS ON A LANDING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 27 AT HELENA REGIONAL AIROPRT (HLN) HELENA, MONTANA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 50 FT ABOVE RUNWAY 27, WHEN TWO (2) MALLARD DUCKS IMPACTED THE RIGHT LEADING EDGE OF THE WING. PILOT COMPLETED THE LANDING AND REPORTED TO TOWER HE WAS COMING TO FULL STOP TO INVESTIGATE DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN TAXIED TO THE PARKING AREA AND TIED DOWN. NO INJURIES TO THE FLIGHT CREW. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE HELENA REGIONAL AIRPORT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. NO ADDITIONAL CAUSAL FACTORS AT THIS TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX07CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA279), Sep 13, 2007: Cessna 172L (N7221Q), Helena, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: unexpected collision with birds on short final that damaged the airplane wing structure.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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