Cessna C-180E accident near Helena, Montana, May 6, 1990
On May 6, 1990 at about 5:14 pm local time, a Cessna C-180E, registered N8679X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Helena, Montana (Helena Regional airport). It was a personal 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 MALFUNCTION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1990 · about 5:14 pm local time
- Place
- Helena, Montana · Helena Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-180E
- Registration
- N8679X · registry record · serial 18051079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS MAKING HIS FOURTH LANDING OF THE MORNING. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AS PLANNED AND THEN HE LET THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCH DOWN ON THE RUNWAY. HE IMMEDIATELY FELT A VIBRATION AND HE LIFTED THE TAIL WHEEL BACK OFF OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE TAIL WHEEL CAME OFF THE RUNWAY HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT GROUND-LOOPED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL BEARING AND PIVOT WAS WORN. IN ADDITION, THE RIGHT RUDDER BRAKE PEDAL RETURN SPRING WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE ATTACHMENT BRACKET.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,140 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 2,040 as pilot in command; 257 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1989; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from HLN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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.