Robinson R44 accident near Helena, MT

On February 6, 2006, a Robinson R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Helena, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

February 6, 2006

Place

Helena, MT

Aircraft

Robinson R44 · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

46.705°N, 111.977°W

NTSB ID

20060208X00181

Official records · SEA06LA052

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

On February 6, 2006, approximately 0015 mountain standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N7085U, was destroyed after impacting terrain near Helena, Montana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to Silver State Helicopters, LLC, of North Las Vegas, Nevada, and operated by the pilot as an unauthorized flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 regulations, departed the Bert Mooney Airport, Butte, Montana, at an unspecified time. In a written statement submitted by the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), dated March 31, 2006, a husband and wife, who were close acquaintances of the pilot, stated that the pilot had been at their home in Helena on the evening of February 5th to watch the Super Bowl and to celebrate his twenty-first birthday. The couple knew the pilot through the husband's helicopter flight lessons, as the pilot was his instructor. The couple related that the pilot, an Italian citizen, had come to the United States when he was seventeen to learn to fly helicopters. He was due to return to Italy in a few months as his visa had expired, however, he was thinking of entering the US military so he would not have to return. The couple further stated that during the evening preceding the accident, the pilot became upset that their daughter did not want to have a relationship with him, other than friendship. The couple

Probable cause

The pilot's intentional suicide. The unauthorized use of a helicopter and impairment by alcohol were factors.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.