# Incident 20261015013349I: Piper PA-23-160, Helena, MT, October 15, 2026

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 2026, 11:48 local time
- Place: Helena, MT
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5955° N, 112.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Helena, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5955&lon=-112.0187&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3301P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3301P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-160 (registry code 7102304, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-160
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 14,670 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20261015013349I

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 15, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1104 MST, THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT DEPARTED HELENA REGIONAL AIRPORT (HLN) FOR A MULTI-ENGINE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE STUDENT PILOT PERFORMED FOUR TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AT BROADWATER COUNTY AIRPORT (8U8) UNEVENTFULLY. HOWEVER, ON THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN COMMANDED. THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ATTEMPTED STANDARD AND MANUAL EXTENSION PROCEDURES WITHOUT SUCCESS.

AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE PIC DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH HLN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) AND EXECUTED A GEAR-UP LANDING ON RUNWAY 23. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE NOSE SECTION AND BOTH PROPELLERS. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR UPPER DRAG BRACE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF. A REVIEW OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED NO PRIOR MAINTENANCE HISTORY ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND ALL DOCUMENTATION WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLIANT. A SERVICE DIFFICULTY REPORT (SDR) IS BEING SUBMITTED, AND THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED WITH NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED.

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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