Robinson Helicopter Co R66 accident near Ekalaka, MT
On October 23, 2025, a Robinson Helicopter Co R66 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Ekalaka, MT. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 23, 2025
- Place
- Ekalaka, MT
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Co R66 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 45.759°N, 104.661°W
- NTSB ID
- 20251023201913
NTSB summary
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 si
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
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- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
