A fatal helicopter accident in Montana claimed the lives of a pilot, his wife, and two of their three children after a Robinson R66 crashed shortly after departure from a private ranch south of Ekalaka Airport (97M). The accident occurred approximately 12 minutes after takeoff while the helicopter was flying in trail with a Cessna 182. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released preliminary findings as the investigation continues.
- Fatalities Confirmed
The pilot, his wife, and two children were killed in the crash. Their third child was not on board the helicopter at the time of the accident. - Flight Profile
The Robinson R66 helicopter departed a private ranch and was flying in formation with a Cessna 182 over the Chalk Buttes Range. - Loss of Tracking Data
The pilot of the Cessna 182 reported losing the helicopter’s ADS-B signal about one minute after the R66 passed through a gap at the southwest end of the buttes. - Witness Account
A witness located approximately three-quarters of a mile southeast observed both aircraft flying at low altitude. She stated the helicopter began to climb before “something came off it,” after which it descended out of view. - Wreckage Findings
The crash site covered an open area of roughly 300 square feet. Debris identified included the two left doors, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, tail rotor driveshaft cover, and the tail rotor. - Investigation Ongoing
The NTSB’s preliminary report did not mention recovery of the main rotor blades. Investigators continue to analyze the cause of the in-flight breakup and subsequent crash.