Robert L Coons RotorWay RW 1 accident near Billings, MT
On September 12, 2018, a Robert L Coons RotorWay RW 1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Billings, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 12, 2018
- Place
- Billings, MT
- Aircraft
- Robert L Coons RotorWay RW 1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 45.000°N, 108.000°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180912X65838
Official records · WPR18FA260
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 12, 2018, about 1245 mountain daylight time, a RotorWay Exec 90 experimental amateur-built helicopter, N166LC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Billings, Montana. The nonrated rotorcraft-helicopter pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. An acquaintance of the pilot, who occupied the hangar directly behind the accident pilot's hangar, reported that the pilot had purchased the helicopter about 3 years before the accident, but the acquaintance did not know the helicopter's condition or stage of assembly at that time. The acquaintance stated that the pilot hover-taxied the helicopter frequently on airport property to perform testing but that he "had not really flown" the helicopter. The acquaintance stated that, on the morning of the accident, the pilot hover-taxied around the airport area to perform testing, landed in front of his hangar, shut down the engine, and exited the helicopter. The acquaintance also stated that he and the pilot spoke for about 15 minutes, during which time the pilot told him how well the helicopter was flying and that he had no issues with it. Afterward, the pilot boarded the helicopter and started the engine. The pilot then hover-taxied the helicopter to the west and parallel to the row of hangars. The helicopter made a 90° left turn to the south and a 180° turn to the north, and the pilot then hover-taxied the helicopter north along the west end of the hangar row.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a hangar while maneuvering to his hangar. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's limited experience in helicopters.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
