# NTSB WPR25LA194: Bellanca 7GCBC, N50476, Helena, MT, June 30, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 29, 2025, 21:00 local (Jun 30, 2025, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Helena, MT - Coordinates: 46.60578, -111.97994 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6058&lon=-111.9799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 200427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200427/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA194 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the flare to a landing on the runway, the sun was directly in his eyes. The pilot unintentionally maneuvered the airplane sideways to the runway. The airplane ground looped, and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50476](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50476), registered now, S/N 1137-79, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1137-79 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 2933 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 19, 2025, 20 hours before - Airport: HLN, Helena Regional Airport, runway 27, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 725 total, 54 in this make and model, 582 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KHLN - METAR: METAR KHLN 291453Z 03005KT 10SM CLR 17/06 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP225 T01670056 50003= ## 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 20250629007459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250629007459A), Jun 29, 2025: Bellanca 7GCBC, Helena, MT, Substantial damage. On June 29, 2025 at 2055 local time a privately operated Bellanca citabria, with one pilot on board, was landing at the Helena Regional Airport (hln). It was… ## Other investigations on N50476 (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 SEA08CA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA169), Jul 27, 2008: Bellanca 7GCBC (N50476), Helena, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot receiving instruction to adequately compensate for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control. Also causal was the flight instructor's delayed… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.