# NTSB WPR26FA031: Robinson Helicopter R66, N67GA, Ekalaka, MT, October 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: October 22, 2025, 18:30 local (Oct 23, 2025, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Ekalaka, MT - Coordinates: 45.758719, -104.66093 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7587&lon=-104.6609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Robinson Helicopter Company, Rolls Royce - NTSB case key (mKey): 201913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA031 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201913/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA031 ## Preliminary report On October 22, 2025, about 1830 mountain daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Co. R66, N67GA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ekalaka, Montana. The pilot and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A friend of the accident pilot reported that about 1818, they departed from a private ranch located south of Ekalaka as a flight of two, which consisted of the accident helicopter and a Cessna 182. After takeoff, the friend queried the accident pilot if he was going to go direct to Ekalaka, and he replied that they were going to fly over the Chalk Buttes on the way to Ekalaka Airport (97M), Ekalaka. The friend offset his route of flight toward the Chalk Buttes and observed the helicopter off his left side and about 1/8th mile in trail at an altitude about the same height as the Chalk Buttes. Just after entering the southwest end of the Chalk Buttes, the accident pilot transmitted that they were going to fly around the set of buttes off their left. The friend then observed the helicopter fly through a gap in the rocks and made a right turn towards the Cessna 182. The friend reported that the helicopter fell back in trail about 1/2 to 1 mile behind him, which was the last time he had visual contact with the helicopter. Approximately 1 minute later, the friend did not see the helicopter on ADS-B and despite multiple attempts, he was unable to establish radio contact with the accident pilot. A witness, who was located about 3/4 mile southeast of the accident site reported that she was inside her residence when she heard the helicopter and airplane overflying her location and went to a nearby window to look. She stated that while looking to the north-northwest, she observed the helicopter flying low over the Buttes from left to right with the airplane in trail. She stated that the helicopter then began to gain altitude, and something came off it, after which it descended out of her line of sight. Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter impacted an open field adjacent to a wooded area within the Chalk Buttes range at an elevation of 3,779 ft mean sea level. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, on a heading of 093°. The wreckage debris area was located southwest of the main wreckage and was about 300 ft wide by 300 ft long. The debris area contained fragments of Plexi glass, the left front and rear doors, tailrotor driveshaft cover, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, tailrotor, and the pilot side GPS mount. (See figure 1.) Figure 1: Accident site and approximate debris area. (Photo courtesy of Rolls Royce.) The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67GA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67GA), registered now, S/N 0485, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0485 - Year built: 2014 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bailey Aviation Management LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KBHK, 39 nm away - METAR: METAR KBHK 230051Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP203 T00611006= ## 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 20251022016209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251022016209A), Oct 22, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Ekalaka, MT, Destroyed, 4 fatal. A witness, who was located about 3/4 mile southeast of the accident site reported that she was inside her residence when she heard the helicopter overflying… ## Other investigations on N67GA (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 CEN15CA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA039), Oct 29, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N67GA), Baton Rouge, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight bird strike. 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.