# NTSB DEN80FA048: Hiller Acft OH-23G, N603RA, Cutbank, MT, July 16, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 16, 1980
- Place: Cutbank, MT · CUTBANK, MT
- Location: 48.6341° N, 112.3301° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cut Bank, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6341&lon=-112.3301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2128  80/7/16  NR.CUTBANK,MT         HILLER ACFT OH-23G  CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0800                    N603RA              PX-  0  2  0  POWER/PIPELINE            40, 2155 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1900 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CUTBANK,MT                  CONRAD,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- UNMARKED WIRES ACROSS RIVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N603RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N603RA-2022-11-21), registration cancelled 2022-11-21, S/N 1527, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HILLER ACFT OH-23G
- Registry model: [Hiller-Roberts OH23G](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-roberts-oh23g) (registry code 4362305) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800716026289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800716026289A), Jul 16, 1980: Hiller OH23G, Cut Bank, MT, Substantial damage. Helicopter flew into unknown and unmarked power line during power line patrol.

## Other investigations on N603RA (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 FTW78DQD22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DQD22), Jun 20, 1978: Hiller UH-12E (N603RA), Van Horn, TX, substantial damage

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.

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