Bell 206B3 accident near Missoula, Montana, June 26, 1988
On June 26, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B3 (helicopter), registered N2754A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Missoula, Montana (Missoula Int'L airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Missoula, Montana · Missoula Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B3 · all 206B3s on the register
- Registration
- N2754A · no longer on the register · serial 2647
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CHECK AIRMAN AND A COMMERCIAL PLT WERE PERFORMING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. DURING CLIMBOUT AFTER A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO AND LIGHT WARNING ACTIVATED. BOTH PILOTS VERIFIED AN ACTUAL ENGINE OUT AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON SOFT TERRAIN WITH SOME FORWARD MOVEMENT AND LOW ROTOR RPM. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVERED IT. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION SUPERVISED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,068 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Minuteman Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: MSO at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MSO
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2754A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.